Daniel Inouye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Daniel Inouye
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| President pro tempore of the United States Senate | |
| In office June 28, 2010 – December 17, 2012 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Leader | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Robert Byrd |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Leahy |
| United States Senator from Hawaii |
|
| In office January 3, 1963 – December 17, 2012 |
|
| Preceded by | Oren Long |
| Succeeded by | Brian Schatz |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's At-large district |
|
| In office August 21, 1959 – January 3, 1963 |
|
| Preceded by | John Burns (Delegate) |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Gill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 7, 1924 Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, U.S. |
| Died | December 17, 2012 (aged 88) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Maggie Shinobu Awamura (1949–2006) Irene Hirano (2008–2012) |
| Children | Ken Inouye |
| Alma mater | University of Hawaii, Manoa George Washington University |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1947 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | 442nd Regimental Combat Team |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
- In this Japanese name, the family name is Inouye.
Daniel Ken "Dan" Inouye (September 7, 1924 – December 17, 2012) was an American politician and United States Senator from Hawaii. He was known for receiving the Medal of Honor because of his actions in World War II.
Early life
Inouye was born in 1924 in the Territory of Hawaii. He was the son of a father who was born in Japan and a mother whose parents were born in Japan. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American.
Soldier
Inouye was an officer in World War II. He volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This army unit was mostly made up of second-generation Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland.
He was wounded several times at Colle Musatello (a battle in Italy), and lost an arm. He remained in the military until 1947. At the time he left the Army, he was a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. For his actions in April 1945, Inouye was awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). In the 1990s, there was a review of service records of Asian Americans who received the DSC during World War II. Inouye's award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. In a ceremony at the White House on June 21, 2000, he was presented with his medal by President Bill Clinton. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the medal during the ceremony, but only seven of them were still alive.
Career in politics
After the war, Inouye studied politics in college. He was elected to the Hawaii Territorial Legislature in the 1950s.
When Hawaii became a state, he was its first Congressman. He served in the United States Senate from 1963 to 2012.
After 2010, Inouye was President Pro Tempore of the Senate, a title given to the longest-serving Senator of the party in power. This made him the highest-ranking Asian American politician in the history of the United States.
Inouye had plans to run for a record tenth term for senator in 2016, but he died on December 17, 2012, before his term was to be completed by January 3, 2017.
Family
Inouye's wife of 57 years, Maggie, died on March 13, 2006. On May 24, 2008, he married Irene Hirano in Beverly Hills, California. Ms. Hirano was president and founding chief executive officer of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, California. On May 27, 2010, Ms. Hirano was elected by the board to chair the nation's 2nd largest non-profit, The Ford Foundation. Inouye's son Kenny was the guitarist for influential D.C. hardcore punk band Marginal Man.
Death
Inouye died on December 17, 2012 in Bethesda, Maryland from a respiratory aliment, aged 88.
Related pages
Images for kids
-
Inouye as a first lieutenant in the US Army
-
President Clinton presenting the Medal of Honor to Senator Inouye on June 21, 2000
-
Irene Hirano Inouye, with Senator Mazie Hirono, after being presented with Inouye's Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
-
President Obama speaking at the funeral service for Inouye
-
President Barack Obama, center, looks toward the sky as U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft with the 199th Fighter Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard and the 19th Fighter Squadron perform the missing man formation in honor of U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye during a service.
.jpg)
