RIP Daniel Inouye
The LA Times reports that Senator Daniel Inouye will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda today. The 88-year-old was only the second oldest serving Senator and became president Pro-tempore of the Senate after the longest-serving Senator, Robert Byrd, finally died.
Inouye served after Pearl Harbor in the famed Nisei 442 Infantry Regiment made famous in the 1951 movie “Go For Broke”. Inouye had his Distinguished Service Cross upgraded by President Clinton. His citation recounts the events on 21 April 1945 that led to the award;
With complete disregard for his personal safety, Second Lieutenant Inouye crawled up the treacherous slope to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades, destroying the emplacement. Before the enemy could retaliate, he stood up and neutralized a second machine gun nest. Although wounded by a sniper’s bullet, he continued to engage other hostile positions at close range until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again deployed in defensive positions. In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured. By his gallant, aggressive tactics and by his indomitable leadership, Second Lieutenant Inouye enabled his platoon to advance through formidable resistance, and was instrumental in the capture of the ridge.
Despite the loss of his arm, Inouye remained in the Army until 1947 and was promoted to captain.
Although we disagreed quite often with the Senator, we honor his military service during difficult days.
Category: Blue Skies
RIP
He was a true American even if we treated hsi family and friends like crap during those times.
RIP Sir!
Wow! I never knew that. RIP Senator Inouye.
I never did much care for the late Senator Inouye’s politics. But I have great respect for his military service.
I have even more respect for him as a man for staying loyal to his nation in spite of the way Japanese-Americans were treated during World War II.
Rest in peace, my elder brother-in-arms. You were indeed a great American.
Japanese-Americans (Nisei) contributed to the war effort in spectacular ways, despite the fact that their fellow Japanese-Americans were interned. They made great contributions in intelligence, particularly SIGINT. A few chapters in America’s Secret Army are a great reference for that.
The Japanese were even more brutal to captured Nisei than to other Americans. They considered it treasonous for these Japanese-Americans to take up arms against Japan because their first loyalty should be racial. Japanese-Americans were not, in their minds, Americans but lost cousins who ought to be loyal to the Emperor.
God speed, Senator.
I do find it ironic that it was a Democrat who put them in internment camps and then he becomes a Democrat….
What Hondo said in #4. Salute.
R.I.P.
When I lived in Hawaii, I worked with some guys from the 442nd and the 100th Infantry Btn. They were humble, but after work over beers they had some interesting stories about being in the internment camps (Sand Island) and joining the Army to show that they were real Americans. I was lucky to be able get to know them.
RIP sir.
@4 – Amen. And I will add that Sen Inouye represented a generation of political leaders who knew how to debate, reach deals, and in short, be a leader.
He was a politician with whom I usually did not agree but definitely respected.
I wish I could say the same about many of today’s political leaders.
I had the priviledge of meeting him.
Rest In Peace.
Wait. He’s standing there holding a BAD GUN. This photo must be erased from teh intertubes.
The Senator was not a gun lover, obviously.
He was on the other side of the political spectrum for me, but he only had one election in his entire career where less than 65% of voters were on his side so he clearly had the pulse of his constituents.
He was also one of the folks who worked to compromise the use of the filibuster, so I give him credit for understanding we are all Americans regardless of politics and we need to figure out how we can work with each other to get the nation on track.
As a soldier there is not much to say except that he was an exceptional leader for his troops and was clearly willing to give his all in the performance of his duty.
God Bless you senator, may you rest in eternal peace!
RIP Senator. Though I disagree with much of what you stood for politically, I can respect a man who put it on the line.
The most amazing thing is, when he was wounded, one of his arms was shot off with a grenade still clutched in the hand. He had to pry the grenade out with his good hand and throw that towards the enemy.
Rest in Peace, Sir.