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Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images
Senator Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, pictured here in 2009, was hospitalized on Thursday. "For the most part, I am OK," he said.
Daniel Inouye, 88, the most senior senator in the U.S. Senate, has been hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where he said he is working with his doctors to regulate his oxygen intake.
“For the most part, I'm OK,” Inouye, a Democrat from Hawaii, said in a statement Monday. “Much to my frustration, I have to remain in the hospital for my own safety and to allow the necessary observation. I will be back on the Hill as soon as my doctors allow it.”
Around the Capitol, Inouye has been seen with a portable oxygen supply.
He was hospitalized Thursday, one day before Pearl Harbor Day. On Friday, he honored the day as he does every year, this time through a press release remembering his time as a young Japanese-American teenager in Hawaii. He wrote:
In 1941, the date December 7th was a day that evoked anger, fierce patriotism and dangerous racism. Soon after that day, I suddenly found myself, pursuant to a decision by the government and along with thousands of Japanese Americans declared 4C, enemy aliens. It was a difficult time. I was 17.
Inouye serves as President Pro Tempore of the Senate and therefore is third in line for succession to the presidency.
He has served in the Senate for 49 years, since 1963. He is currently the longest-serving member of the Senate; late Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia served for 51 years.
Inouye was hospitalized on Nov. 15 after falling and cutting the back of his head. A statement released by his office spoke to the senator’s apparent dislike of being hospitalized: “The U.S. Army Captain and World War II combat veteran wanted to put a bandage on and come to work but his family insisted he get it checked out.”
NBC's Kelly O'Donnell and Isolde Raftery contributed reporting.
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Leave a Comment:
time to give it a break you deserve it,you have served the country well,god bless you senator.
He's a truly great American. He's sacrificed more than most of us can ever imagine, and for a country that at the time for the most part didn't appreciate it due to his race.
However, we need to either get the president pro tem of the Senate out of the presidential succession or change the idea that this person has to be the most senior member of the majority party. Before Sen. Inouye, the two before him were Sens. Robt. Byrd of West Virginia and Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. Both were well into their nineties when serving and too feeble to have become President had the need arisen, and the same seems to be true of Sen. Inouye now as well. We need people in this position who could become President on a moment's notice should the need arise, even though the chance of something happening to the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the House all at once is really remote (we hope).
I'm sure this guy is a good American but we really need an age limit in Washington. How about 80 for Congressmen and 77 for the Senators at the start of their last term. I know many people in their 80's and none of the are half as sharp as they used to be. I don't mean to insult older folks but sometimes the truth hurts and these jobs are very important to the future of America. WE need the best and brightest and too many of the positions are filled with people in their declining years. IF they were truly great Americans they would want to pass the torch for the sake of this country and it's people.
A nice shout out in the article to Bob Byrd, former Klansman and Democrat Senator from West Virginia.
What a party!
for Zuksam: Shame on you!!!!.."if they were a truly great americans" ....my father in law, who was in boot camp with Senator Inouye..is 87 years old and is sharp as a tack...i would trust him and Sen. Inouye with any decisions that have to be made for my ohana and /or my country....Senator Inouye is a truly great american, he lost his arm fighting for our country and we are very proud of him here in Hawai'i nei. Shame on you and your stereotypes that our kupuna must be put to pasture...or as you call it...passing on the torch..for the sake of the country and it's people!!!!!! for Shame!!!!
Get Well Soon,
Senator Daniel Inouye, Medal of Honor Recipient, American of Japanese Ancestory, Nisei, 442nd Regimental Combat Team "Go For Broke".
Nisei (born in US) serving in the US Military while Japanese parents had to sell or leave everything all assets frozen and confiscated per Executive Order 9066 and be sent to US Concentration Camps and denied Medical Treatments during the "sickness" (small pox outbreaks, vaccines withheld just outside the barbed wire in warehouses. "Sickness" briefly mention in movie "Go For Broke".). Nisei serving in US Military sending food to parents in US Concentration Camps.
THE MOST DECORATED UNIT OF US ARMY WWII 442 BATTALION JAPANESE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw_3KO9c_QE
Medal Of Honor: Go For Broke National Education Center
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m1JVjE2Ox0
Go For Broke part 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s_78qkk5m4
Go For Broke part 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bu9KWWrByI
Go For Broke parts 3 to 10 to right on youtube.com (links above).
"WE need the best and brightest and too many of the positions are filled with people in their Daniel Inouye"
Remember -- we have people like Michelle Bachmann in congress --- people who deny science, deny facts, people who live in a make-believe world then try to legislate it. I'll take Daniel Inouye "in his "declining years" over people like her every time.
Senator Dan, Please get well soon.
Dem's Rule for a Better America, 88 and still going - Wish Dan a speedy recovery !!!!!!!!!
My favorite Inouye quotes:
And
P.S. Jack Brooks died last week.
Take care Senator Inouye we need you to help fight the trolls in the Senate. You know those nasty little trolls who love their tea so we must deprive the Senate of as much tea as possible
Dude is a boss, probably worn out from all the hotties.
A true American hero, lost a limb in WW2, has lots of medals from that war, has served nearly 50 years as a United States Senator, all with distinction. When I was stationed in Hawaii in the late '60s and early '70s he was a treasure to the state and will continue to be so. This is a man who put up with much and has given much. He asks for nothing in adulation and prefers to take care of himself. A truely great man.
Get well, Seator Inouye. I remember our meetings well.
A lot can be said about Sen. Inouye and his decades of service to our nation. This should suffice: Medal of Honor recipient. Speedy recovery sir!
A World War II hero and hard working senator - best wishes to you Mr. Inouye and a speedy recovery.
MG from IL,It's Senator Inouye not Mr.Inouye.He's earned the title Senator and should be addressed as such.I'm a Republican but I have the utmost respect for him.Aloha and speedy recovery Senator Inouye.
This is one CLASS ACT. Love this guy. Get well soon, yes your country still desperately needs you.
Time to hang 'em up, Senator. Thanks for your service but the last thing this country needs now is an 88 year old man with breathing difficulties to be third in line for the nation's highest office.
Godspeed Senator.............
Rick how about just best wishes for a speedy recovery to a great man?
I bet you had no problem with Strom Thurmond serving forever, even after he had moved into a hospital as his home?
Anyone with much sense had trouble with Senator Thurmond being a senator and in a position of authority as long as he was. When I went to see the Senate in session in 1980, we were in the gallery right over Sen. Thurmond, and even way back then he was very feeble and seemed hardly to be aware of what was going on, but he served for two decades or so after this. He also was a great World War II hero (although not physically disabled) but needed to retire at least three terms before he actually did.
You are needed about as bad as Hairy Red, errrr, Reed...... Please retire as I never knew you were still in the Senate. I thought you retired or died in the 80's........
He is a true hero.A CMH recipient(Congressional Medal Of Honor)The highest award bestowed for heroism to a service member in this country.
...Don't always agree with his political views... always agree with his love of country and sense of duty.
alghourd, are you PROUD of your ignorance?
WOW, so 88 and in office that long, thanks for serving, but too many of our current elected officials have become so power hungry, selfish, and narrow minded they will not step down and let someone else take over. Our elected officials have turned our government into a monarchy.
Senator, you are a role model for all Americans. You have served our Country so well. I fully understand that you wish to get well enough to continue to serve in the US Senate. I don't care how old you are, I care how you are able to provide insight and leadership in the Democratic Party. You can do it. I have faith in you.
Recent immigrants might take a page from your book.
Current government might also take a page from your book. Our country's greatness is at its best when represented by citizens, yes, I said citizens, from a diverse bank of backgrounds. And for that reason, I support any effort by the US government to grant citizenship to those immigrants from the other 'americas", particularly those from Mexico and Central American countries.
Dear Senator Inouye: Pls get well soon; it's the best holiday gift you could give to your family, your state and your country. Good wishes from all for a full recovery...
Every time I fly over, I always wonder why the Islands are so far away, and as we saw long time ago, not easy to protect all the time.
But you certainly helped a lot!
Should not be anyone in office over SS retirement age. Their antiquated ideologies keep this nation from moving forward.
I salute you sir.
It's sad to see some of these older warriors from the Second World War now facing health problems. My best wishes to both the Senator and President Bush for their service to our country and I wish both gentlemen a speedy recovery.
Eighty Eight years old? Come on. No wonder this country can't move forward.
No one working a blue collar middle class job could possible work till they were 88.
Fourty nine years, FOURTY NINE YEARS.
Term limits anyone?????
God bless you sir, and I hope that you have a speedy recovery. We need more Senators with your abilities and wisdom.
Communist (__*__) .
DarkStar,Do you even know the definition of communism?Did you know that no country on this planet actually practices true communism? Are you trolling ro do your parents think that you are doing your homeowrk?r
You served your country, we honor that but you also swore an oath, an oath to protect the Constitution from all enemy's foreign and domestic , It's the domestic side that's been forgotten. and that we can never forgive.
Troll...
Parties aside....if that's possible for you libs and conservs............
He served this country as did McCain and many others but don't forget that this fiscal cliff mess has been brought about by these misguided (although well intentioned?) folks that fought more for re-election than the betterment of the American people. We now have to pick up the pieces from their poor decisions.
I have the utmost respect for ANYONE having served in the military and always will. It's time to put your party aside analyze how we spent so much more than we earned for so many years and kept on doing so despite it's eventual festering.
I wish a speedy recovery and thank Sen. Inouyne for his military service to my country.