Daniel Ken Inouye, the longest serving senator, died of a respiratory illness on Dec. 12, 2012, leaving behind his last word, “Aloha.”

 He was known for his bravery in World War II where he sacrificed his right arm to a German rifle grenade. For this he earned the Medal of Honor. Inouye graduated from McKinley High School in 1942. Unlike students in McKinley today, Inouye and his peers had to wear gas masks during their graduation because it was only months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941. Two years after his graduation, Inouye volunteered for the army and was at first rejected because his studies in the medical field made him a crucial part of the medical aid.

After quitting the aid station, he was accepted and assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. While attacking German troops near San Terenzo, Italy, Inouye lost his right arm. However, he fought on until he was shot in his right leg. After being discharged, ranked as a captain, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor. He and twenty-one other Asian-American veterans were rewarded with the Medal of Honor in 2000 by Bill Clinton.

Before entering military service and becoming wounded, he had hoped to become a doctor, but those dreams were now over. He instead studied pre-law at the University of Hawaii in hopes of getting into politics. Before becoming a senator in 1962, he was elected to the Territorial Senate, as Hawaii was not part of the United States yet. He was also in the United States House of Representatives.

In August 2011, Senator Inouye took the time to visit schools that he had attended, where he found many differences in the time he had been there and what it is like now. He saw many improvements in McKinley and commented on its brilliant status.

Teacher Gwen Maeda said that in July 2012, teachers and vice principals of the Academy of Finance and the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism were fortunate to meet with Senator Inouye at his capitol office after the National Academy of Foundation conference.

She said, “He was very interested in hearing our thoughts on high school students. Of course he took particular interest in McKinley High School. He expressed his concern for education because of the number of the nation’€™s high school graduates not able to meet the military entrance requirements.”

Inouye’s service to his country, as well as his state, was impeccable. He worked hard to better Hawaii and along the way, picked up many admirers including President Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton.

They honored beloved Senator Inouye during a memorial at the National Cathedral in Washington and praised him with words such as “€œremarkable” and “extraordinary.”€