Authors: AUDREY McAVOY and MARK THIESSEN
Associated Press
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Associated Press)-The US Navy launched the USS Daniel Inoue on December 8, named after the long-serving Hawaiian U.S. Senator and World War II veteran.
After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Inoue and other Japanese Americans were initially barred from enlisting in the army. After the policy change, his Japanese-American soldier unit became one of the most respected units, Inoue received the Medal of Honor, and now there is a guided missile destroyer named after him.
Due to measures taken to mitigate COVID-19, the military limited the number of people participating in the event and broadcast the ceremony online. At the meeting was Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro (Carlos Del Toro), who gave a keynote speech on the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Del Toro said at the service ceremony: “There is absolutely no more suitable name for this ship than Senator Daniel Inoue. He fought the Nazis on the front line and strengthened our national defense in Congress.” “Senator Inoue will always be us. The North Star for the army and myself.”
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be stationed in Pearl Harbor, Inoue’s hometown.
Inoue became the first Japanese-American to serve in Congress when he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1959, and that year Hawaii became a state. Three years later, he won the Senate election. When he died at the age of 88 in 2012, he served in the Senate for nearly 50 years, more than anyone in American history except the late Robert Byrd of West Virginia.
Inoue played a key role in Congress’ investigations into the Watergate and Iran Gate scandals, and served as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee.
In World War II, Inoue served in the Army’s 442nd Regiment Combat Team, a force mainly composed of Japanese Americans, and one of the most decorated units in American history.
“After President Roosevelt decided to allow Japanese-Americans to volunteer, he and thousands of other people volunteered to participate in this service and went into danger, because when the United States did not believe them, they believed in the United States, and for that they were willing to fight. To fight,” Inoue’s son Ken said at the ceremony.
Inoue received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in leading the charge in a machine gun lair in Italy. His right arm was shattered by a German grenade and he lost his right arm.
Del Toro said: “Generations of brave Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made our military and our country stronger, but unless all Americans are welcomed and valued in our country’s military, we The legacy of Daniel Inoue cannot be fully realized,” “We must recruit, retain, guide, educate, and promote the best talents in our country. This includes all Daniel Inoue that our country must provide.”
USS Daniel Inouye borrowed its motto from 442-“Go For Broke”.
The 510-foot-long ship weighs more than 9,000 tons, can easily exceed 30 knots, and can fight enemy ships, submarines, missiles, and aircraft. Its combat system uses powerful computers and phased array radars to track more than 100 targets.
It is also equipped with ballistic missile defense capabilities.
