Medal of Honor Citation:
“Second Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 21 April 1945, in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy. While attacking a defended ridge guarding an important road junction, Second Lieutenant Inouye skillfully directed his platoon through a hail of automatic weapon and small arms fire, in a swift enveloping movement that resulted in the capture of an artillery and mortar post and brought his men to within 40 yards of the hostile force. Emplaced in bunkers and rock formations, the enemy halted the advance with crossfire from three machine guns. 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. Second Lieutenant Inouye’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.”
If the Wikipedia article on Inouye is to be believed, the MOH citation doesn’t tell the half of it. He’d already been shot in the stomach once and refused evacuation, and was crawling toward another bunker with a grenade out in his right hand when a German rifle grenade hit him in the arm and blew it off...leaving the grenade, spoon still down, clenched in his right fist on the ground. He had to use his left hand to pull the grenade out of his amputated right hand, threw it into the machine-gun nest to clear it out as the German who shot him was reloading, and then finished off one more position firing a Thompson gun left-handed.
And then he had to have more of his shattered arm amputated without anesthetic because he’d already had too much morphine.
}:-)4
I do not wish to detract in any way from the awards earned by Sen Inouye.
That said, each time I see a long delayed award to a prominent or most PC person, I have to ask why now? Bestowed by Bill Clinton (2000?) to a sitting senior senator.
Will Sgt. Peralta be be upgraded?
I do not wish to detract in any way from the awards earned by Sen Inouye.
That said, each time I see a long delayed award to a prominent or most PC person, I have to ask why now? Bestowed by Bill Clinton (2000?) to a sitting senior senator.
Will Sgt. Peralta be be upgraded?