On this day, Daniel K. Inouye (1924–2012) was born in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Raised in the spirit of humility and respect, he lived a life of extraordinary service—one that honored both his Japanese heritage and his American homeland.

As a teenager, he volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, an all-Japanese American unit that fought with unmatched bravery in Italy, France, and Germany, most famously rescuing the Lost Battalion in the forests of the Vosges.

Far from home, these young men from Hawai‘i and the mainland banded together as brothers, bound by purpose, pride, and perseverance. Their motto, “Go for Broke,” a Hawaiian phrase meaning to give everything, reflected their all-or-nothing courage. The 442nd became one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history for its size and length of service.

Inouye’s battlefield sacrifice...losing his right arm while saving his men...became a lasting symbol of fearless dedication. “My first thought was that I could no longer play the ukulele, and my dream of becoming a surgeon was over,” he later reflected. “But it’s a funny thing — I never considered myself a cripple or an invalid. It just never became part of my thinking. It isn’t part of my thinking today.”

In Congress, he served for five decades with a voice that was clear, steady, and quietly strong.

He believed in the goodness of people. “Look into their heart,” he urged, a reminder to lead not with judgment, but with compassion. Hawai‘i gave him roots. America gave him wings. He served both with all he had.