Daniel Inouye, a great American, dies at 88

In 1987, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, served as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaragua Opposition, which became widely known as the Iran-Contra hearings. Inouye's committee documented a secret U.S. government plot to sell advanced weaponry to Iran then use the proceeds to fund anti-government rebels in Nicaragua.


It's hard to think of anyone who loved his country more than Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye.

Back when I was much younger and much more idealistic, Daniel Inouye led a congressional investigation of U.S. government dirty tricks that had helped prop up Iran during its long war with Iraq and supported the Nicaraguan Contra rebels, who President Reagan had dubbed "freedom fighters" for trying to overthrow the Central American country's socialist government. While following the hearings on TV and National Public Radio, I was mesmerized not only by the cabal in the White House that had hatched and orchestrated a blatently illegal plot but also by Inouye, who had a knack for blending senatorial courtesy with a fearless commitment to protecting democratic institutions and the rule of law.

While most of the Iran Contra scandal perpetrators escaped justice, Inouye made sure their "shadowy government" was exposed and dismantled.

During World War II, Inouye was among a select few Japanese-American patriots who were allowed to served in the U.S. military; most were assigned to the Army's the 442nd Infantry Regiment. Thousands of other Japanese-Americans from the West Coast were detained in prison camps. Inouye's regiment, considered one of the most decorated combat units in U.S. Army history, was shipped to Europe to fight the Germans and Italians ... Japanese-Americans had been deemed untrustworthy to fight against Japan.

Second Lt. Daniel Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism in action" in April 1945 near San Terenzo, Italy. According to the presidential citation awarding Inouye the Medal of Honor:

"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."

Daniel Inouye loved his native Hawaii as much as he loved his country. According to a statement on his Senate website, the last word he spoke was "Aloha."

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye died Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. He was 88. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he earned 15 medals and citations for his service in the U.S. Army during World War II, including the Disinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. /Image via www.inouye.senate.gov