The Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer will be christened for late senator and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye during a ceremony this Saturday in Bath, Maine.
Sen. Daniel Inouye was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 7, 1924. During World War II, Inouye served with the U.S. Army's 442nd Regimental Combat Team — composed of soldiers of all Japanese ancestry and one of the most decorated military units in U.S. history.
During his time serving with the 442nd, Inouye earned the Medal of Honor for actions of heroism in combat. During an assault on April 21, 1945, a grenade shattered Inouye's right arm — he remained at the head of his platoon despite immense pain until his men were secure. During the war, he also earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart with Cluster.
Meet the 33 Asian American and Pacific Islander Medal of Honor recipients
After the war, Inouye earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii and a law degree from the George Washington University. He practiced law in Hawaii before entering politics in 1954 as one of Hawaii's first representatives in U.S. Congress when it became a state. In 1962, Inouye was elected to the U.S. Senate.
In 2013, Inouye was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — he is the first and only senator to receive both the Medal of Freedom and Medal of Honor.
Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii will deliver the christening ceremony's principal address. The late senator's wife, Irene Hirano Inouye, will serve as the ship's sponsor.
"The future USS Daniel Inouye will serve for decades as a reminder of Senator Inouye's service to our nation and his unwavering support of a strong Navy and Marine Corps team," said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. "This ship honors not only his service but the service of our shipbuilders who help make ours the greatest Navy and Marine Corps team in the world."
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Navy to christen Guided-Missile Destroyer for Senator, Medal of Honor recipient, Inouye 1
Navy to christen Guided-Missile Destroyer for Senator, Medal of Honor recipient, Inouye 2
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Photo courtesy of Boston PDNavy to christen Guided-Missile Destroyer for Senator, Medal of Honor recipient, Inouye 6
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