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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Daniel K. Inouye

First Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 21, 1945 in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy during World War II.

World War II April 21, 1945

First Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 21, 1945 in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company E, 442d Regimental Combat Team. Inouye was 20 years old.

The medal was presented on June 21, 2000, 55 years after the action — the White House - presented by President William J. Clinton. He later rose to the rank of then Second Lieutenant.

Inouye was born on September 7, 1924 in Honolulu, Oahu, Honolulu County, Hawaii. Inouye died on December 17, 2012 in Bethesda (Walter Reed), Maryland, at the age of 88. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. His medal is held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Inouye is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 20 credited to Hawaii.

★ Wounded but Fought On★ Assaults on Machine-Gun Nests

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

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.

Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Daniel K. Inouye received:

Bronze Star MedalPurple HeartFour Freedoms Award – Freedom from FearGrand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia FlowersHoratio Alger AwardKnight of the Legion of HonourOrder of the Rising Sun, 1st classPresidential Medal of FreedomWorld War II Victory Medalhonorary doctor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War II.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Honolulu — map
  • Died: Bethesda — map
  • Buried: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Hawaii →

Timeline

  1. September 7, 1924
    Born in Honolulu, Oahu, Honolulu County, Hawaii
  2. April 21, 1945
    Act of valor — in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy
    Age 20. Company E, 442d Regimental Combat Team
  3. June 21, 2000
    Medal of Honor presented
    The White House - presented by President William J. Clinton
  4. December 17, 2012
    Died in Bethesda (Walter Reed), Maryland
    Age 88.
  5. Resting place
    National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
    Honolulu, Hawaii

Biography

Daniel Ken Inouye ( ee-NOH-ay; Japanese: 井上 建; September 7, 1924 – December 17, 2012) was an American attorney, soldier, and statesman who represented Hawaii in the United States Senate from 1963 until his death in 2012. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the most-senior member of the Senate when he died. He is the second-longest serving U.S. senator in history. Prior to his tenure in the Senate, Inouye served in the Hawaii Territorial Legislature and the United States House of Representatives from 1959 to 1963. Inouye was born and raised in Honolulu, in what was then the Territory of Hawaii.

From the Wikipedia article “Daniel Inouye”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

More World War II recipients from Hawaii

Yeiki Kobashigawa Technical Sergeant · Army World War II · 1944 Shizuya Hayashi Private · Army World War II · 1943 Kaoru Moto Private First Class · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ Mikio Hasemoto Private · Army World War II · 1943 ✦ Shinyei Nakamine Private · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ Barney Fushimi Hajiro Private · Army World War II · 1944
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.