Overview
The son of Japanese immigrants, Daniel Inouye was born in 1924 in Honolulu, Hawaii. When Inouye was just 17 years old, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor swept the United States into war and forever changed the course of his life. Inouye's heroic actions on an Italian battlefield during World War II eventually earned him the United States's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, but it also cost him his right arm and his dreams of becoming a surgeon. Determined to pursue a career in public service, Inouye became the first Japanese American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and later the Senate. During the 1970s and '80s, he attracted national attention for his role in investigating two major political scandals, the Watergate scandal and the Iran-Contra affair. One of the U.S. Senate's longest-serving members, Inouye shows no signs of slowing down.Synopsis
The son of Japanese immigrants, Daniel Inouye was born in 1924 in Honolulu, Hawaii. When Inouye was just 17 years old, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor swept the United States into war and forever changed the course of his life. Inouye's heroic actions on an Italian battlefield during World War II eventually earned him the United States's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, but it also cost him his right arm and his dreams of becoming a surgeon. Determined to pursue a career in public service, Inouye became the first Japanese American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and later the Senate. During the 1970s and '80s, he attracted national attention for his role in investigating two major political scandals, the Watergate scandal and the Iran-Contra affair. One of the U.S. Senate's longest-serving members, Inouye shows no signs of slowing down.
Children's Literature
This book is a comprehensive retelling for children about the remarkable Congressman, Daniel Inouye. Readers are thrust into the Sunday morning attack on Pearl Harbor when Daniel was a teen. It discusses in detail how Japanese Americans were treated during World War II. The book explains how Daniel's parents first came to be in Hawaii. It details his upbringing in the Japanese ghetto of Hawaii to his service in World War II. It discusses his injury, recovery, and the subsequent refocus of his goals. The story picks up once Daniel enters politics. It gives the reader good ideas about how they can serve the government and political party of their choosing. Additionally, throughout the book, there are related tidbits, such as other notable Japanese Americans and English Standard Schools. There is a time line of events in Daniel's life and additional books for reading more about Daniel Inouye. This is an educational read that is a must have for any library. "Asian Americans of Achievement" series. Reviewer: Jennifer Mitchell