We decided to go and visit the newly renovated National Museum of American History today. We figured that we'd just hang out with George Washington for a while.
THESE ARE THINGS WE DIDN'T KNOW...How many times was Senator Inouye shot in the war?
Back in Italy, the 442nd was assaulting a heavily defended hill in the closing months of the war when Lieutenant Inouye was hit in his abdomen (#1) by a bullet which came out his back, barely missing his spine. Not feeling much pain, he continued to lead the platoon and advanced alone against a machine gun nest which had his men pinned down.
He then distincly remembers seeing a German soldier stand up and face him, at the tip of the riffle was a grenade launcher. Thankfully, the soldier was a bad aim and it hit his right elbow (#2). Inouye being concerned about his fellow troops started looking for the grenade because he didn't want his guys to blow up. He then looked at his dangling arm and in it was stuck the grenade. He grabbed the grenade and through it back (it was a good throw).
He then was hit in his foot by a bullet (#3), which toppled him over and he fell back and rolled down the hill. He was evacuated one hour later.
Dan Inouye spent 20 months in Army hospitals after losing his right arm. On May 27, 1947, he was honorably discharged and returned home as a Captain with a Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest award for military valor), Bronze Star, Purple Heart with cluster and 12 other medals and citations.
His Distinguished Service Cross was recently upgraded to a Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for military valor. He received that medal from the President of the United States on June 21, 2000.
We left the museum today and saw this awesome view of the Washington Monument at sunset. What a day...(more to come)
Posted by Debbie and Milton 02/21/09
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