The Last Viewing - StoryCorps Animated Short Film
Nainoa Kealiʻihokuhelelani Hoe, a 1st Lt. in the U.S. Army, died on January 22, 2005 while serving in Mosul, Iraq. Hoe, originally from Kailua, Oʻahu, graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1995 and earned his bachelors degree in management information systems and a master’s in business administration from the University of Hawaiʻi. The Hoe family issued a statement after his death, thanking the people of Hawaiʻi for their prayers, support and love. “Nainoa was not one to just dream. He dedicated his life to making things happen. Above all, he loved life, especially when he was sharing or helping others.” Today, the Brian Laviolette Scholarship Foundation awards a 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe Scholarship of Honor yearly to outstanding Hawaiʻi high school students who continue on to become University of Hawaiʻi ROTC cadets.
A recording of Hoe's father, Allen, was chosen by StoryCorps to be brought to the screen as a StoryCorps animated short, The Last Viewing. This 3-minute animated short is currently featured in the 2015 PBS Online Film Festival along with The Fishing Club (submitted by Pacific Islanders in Communications) and 23 other short films. Each film is eligible to win the Audience Choice Award, and viewers may vote for their favorite films daily through Friday, July 17.
Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 50,000 interviews with over 100,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and millions listen to weekly broadcasts on NPR’s Morning Edition and on StoryCorps' website.
About "The Last Viewing" - from StoryCorps:
Allen Hoe served as a combat medic during the Vietnam War, and his two sons continued his legacy of service. His oldest son, Nainoa, eventually became a first lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. In January 2005, while leading his men through Mosul, Iraq, Nainoa was killed by sniper fire. He was 27. On Memorial Day that same year, Allen traveled to Washington to honor Nainoa's memory, and it was there that he had a chance encounter with a stranger that brought them both unforeseen comfort.
StoryCorps is proud to present “The Last Viewing" alongside "1st Squad, 3rd Platoon" and "The Nature of War” to honor Veterans Day 2014. The stories come from StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative, which aims to bridge the gap between veterans and civilians. Told in the voices of veterans and their family members, these films honor the service and sacrifice of the military community and tells them that we—as a nation—are listening.
Learn more about Nainoa Hoe:
NPR: Memorial Day Miracle At 'The Wall'
Washington Post: Nainoa Hoe's Last Patrol
University of Hawaiʻi - Fallen Warriors
Categories: Film Festival