21 April

2Lt. DANIEL K. INOUYE
442^nd Reg. Combat Team
San Terenzo, Italy
21 April 1945

The 442ns was tasked with taking a defended ridge guarding an important road junction. 2Lt Inouye skillfully lead his platoon through a hail of automatic weapons and small arms fire, resulting in the capture of an artillery and mortar post.

With complete disregard for his personal safety, Inouye crawled up the slope to within five yards of an enemy machine gun and destroyed it.

Before the enemy could mount a counter attack, Inouye stood up and neutralized a second machine gun emplacement. Despite being wounded by a sniper’s bullet, he continued to engage enemy positions at close range, until his right arm was shattered by an enemy hand grenade. The arm could not be saved.

The young officer refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again deployed in defensive positions.

The last lines of 2Lt Inouye’s Medal of Honor citation read as follows:

“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.”
2Lt Inouye went on to be one of Hawaii’s first senators and represented the 50^th State until his death in 2012.