Hawaii
U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye was born on September 7th 1924 on the Island of Honolulu in Hawaii. The young Daniel Inouye attended public school and worked parking cars at the Honolulu Stadium. He also made extra money by giving haircuts to his fellow students. Most ofhis spare time was spent on his flock of homing pigeons, his postage stamp collection, and collecting parts for his crystal radio set as well as his chemistry set.
On that fateful day of December 7, 1941 came the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The 17-year-old Daniel was immediately on the scene to handle civilian casualties. He had taken medical aid training and was quickly pressed into service to head up a litter team, he recalls seeing a lot of blood, and not going home for a week.
In March of 1943 the 18-year-old Daniel Inouye, then a freshman in premedical studies at the University of Hawaii, enlisted in the US Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the famed “Go For Broke” regiment.
Inouye was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant and was designated combat platoon leader during the Italian campaign. He slogged through nearly three bloody months of the Rome Arno campaign with the Fifth Army.
In the fall of 1944 Inouye’s unit fought in two of the bloodiest weeks of the war rescuing a Texas Battalion that was surrounded by German forces. This rescue of the “Lost Battalion” is considered one of the most significant battles of the 20th century. Inouye lost ten pounds during the engagement, became a platoon leader, and won the Bronze Star as well as a battlefield commission as Second Lieutenant.
On April 21 st 1945 in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy 2nd Lt. Inouye was leading an assault on a heavily defended ridge.
Inouye was shot in the abdomen, the bullet exited his back, narrowly missing his spine. Despite his wound Inouye kept on leading his platoon advancing on the enemy positions. During the attack 2nd Lt. Inouye skillfully directed his platoon through a hail of automatic weapon and small arms fire, and in a swift enveloping movement captured an artillery and mortar post, bringing his men to within 40 yards of the enemy line. Emplaced in bunkers and rock formations, the enemy halted their advance with crossfire from three machine guns.
With complete disregard for his own safety, and seriously wounded Inouye crawled up the treacherous slope within five yards of the nearest machine gun nest and hurled two of enemy fire and took out second machine gun nest. He was then hit in the right arm by a sniper’s bullet but continued to advance and engage the enemy until a grenade exploded at close range and shattered his right arm. Although he had several serious wounds, bleeding excessively, and in intense pain, Inouye still advanced and hurled his last grenade with his left hand at the remaining machine gun emplacement.
For Daniel Inouye’s remarkable courage under fire and dedication to the safety of his men he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, which was upgraded to the Congressional Medal of Honor.
In 1954 Daniel Inouye entered public office being elected to the Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives, served as the first congressman from the SOth State, and has served as the Senator from Hawaii since 1962.