On Mother’s Day, 1968, Army Medic SPC Allen Hoe watched 18 of his friends die in battle during the Vietnam War. In the five decades since then, he has devoted his life to helping the families of those fallen Soldiers and the Army community. And it was at a 2005 Memorial Day event in Washington that he met a nurse who returned the favor by giving Allen peace after the death of Allen’s own son, who died during a deployment to Iraq in 2005. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with now-CASA Hoe to talk about his Vietnam experiences, the bravery of his son, and about the history—and beauty—of his native Hawaii.

Guest:

Allen Hoe, Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) and American Gold Star Father

Audio Clip Credit: Courtesy of the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS

Capital Concerts. "Ruthie Ann Miles Performs "Aloha ' Oe"| 2024 National Memorial Day Concert." YouTube video, 3:34, May 26, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzshhU5b_sY

Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!

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