DANIEL INOUYE WAS AN AMERICAN HERO ON AND OFF THE BATTLEFIELD


By bblouin
Daniel Inouye

The battlefield is glamourized throughout various media, including movies and video games, but the reality of war is that it is a grisly, nasty place to find yourself. Daniel Inouye would learn this first-hand, no pun intended. From losing a limb during World War II to breaking down racial barriers to even leading a successful political career, few people have lived even half of the life that Daniel K. Inouye led as he continuously overcame adversity to be a hero while serving his country and beyond. More like this:5 Asian-American War Heroes We Should've Learned About in School

Who Is Daniel K. Inouye?

"Absolute bada$$" should be enough to sum up who Daniel K. Inouye was, but that’s a bit of a simplification. Daniel Inouye was a Japanese-American who overcame hatred and racial bias to help free Europe from Nazis, defend America, and fight for the rights of Asian-Americans. Here are a few key highlights of the legend that is Daniel K. Inouye:

  • Inouye was a medical volunteer serving before he ever joined the U.S. Army during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • Although he wanted to enlist, Daniel Inouye faced stiff prejudice because he was a Japanese-American. In fact, he was not admitted into the Armed Forces at first.
  • Once accepted, Daniel Inouye was placed in the segregated Nisei-only (second-generation Japanese-American or Japanese-Canadian) 442nd Infantry Regiment. The regiment would go on to be one of the most decorated units in the history of the military.
  • Daniel Inouye would earn various prestigious medals during his military service, including the Distinguished Service Cross (later upgraded to the Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton), Purple Heart, Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. He would also win the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor for a civilian.
  • Although he lost his arm after being hit by multiple grenades, all after being shot in the stomach (which then caused him to pass out due to blood loss), Inouye still helped lead his men to success during the Assault on Colle Musatello.
  • After the war, unsatisfied with the way he and his fellow Japanese-American Veterans were being treated, Inouye would set off on a political career to inspire more representation of Asian-Americans and become one of the first Senators from Hawaii.

It doesn’t matter where you look; if you are examining the life of Daniel K. Inouye, you are looking directly at a brave hero who worked hard to make sure that America was a better place for all.

Daniel Inouye Suffered a Horrible Injury but Won the Battle

Before the Assault on Colle Musatello, Inouye was shot right above his chest but was saved thanks to two coins that happened to stop the bullet. He would carry them with him as good luck charms, but sure enough, they ended up going missing before reaching Liguria, Italy. But the good news is that while this was going to be a very unlucky day for Inouye, his bravery hadn’t gone missing when it was needed the most. There were many machine-gun nests that needed to be cleared, and Inouye led the charge to clear each pillbox. The fire was unsurprisingly heavy, which would lead to Daniel Inouye suffering a shot to the stomach. Despite pleas from his men to fall back and receive medical attention, he kept fighting and leading his men to the point that his blood loss would cause him to pass out. His unit was able to distract the opposing forces enough for Inouye to crawl to the final bunker armed with his hand grenades and Thompson gun. Suddenly, a German soldier spotted him attempting to throw a grenade in the pillbox and shot him with a grenade launcher, which didn’t detonate but ripped off most of his arm. Thinking quickly, Inouye would grab the grenade from his now-incapacitated hand to finish the job. As if this wasn’t enough, he would continue on and kill at least one more German troop before suffering yet another injury, this time to his leg, and being forced off of the battlefield. Although this effectively ended his military career, that single battle is more than enough. Daniel Inouye proved himself on the battlefield as a fierce warrior who was as tough as any of ‘em.

Remembering Daniel Inouye’s Legacy

Although he would rightfully earn the distinction of being a war hero, it wasn’t handed over overnight, and it also wasn’t the end of Inouye’s legacy. He would still face many racial hurdles, despite his esteemed war record following his return from WWII. The man who took down Nazis in Europe would go on to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He was one of the Hawaii Senators that would work on important issues such as NAFTA, representation for Asian-Americans, recognition of Taiwan, and more. Today, we remember Daniel Inouye as someone who championed the right thing even in the face of adversity. A man who put his country and others before himself through service, dedication, and toughness. In Pearl Harbor, we also remember his service through the USS Daniel Inouye, yet another testament to his work during WWII and beyond. Related read:Japanese-American Soldiers in WW2 Served While Losing Their Rights

Image: Wally McNamee/Corbis via Getty Images


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