Densho Digital Archive
Densho Visual History Collection
Title: Daniel Inouye Interview
Narrator: Sen. Daniel Inouye
Interviewers: Tom Ikeda (primary), Beverly Kashino (secondary)
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Date: June 30, 1998
Densho ID: denshovh-idaniel-01-0018

DI: I did what an officer was not supposed to do. The common practice, don't get too close to your men. Don't get intimate with them because the loss would be so devastating. But I made up my mind that I had to know each person as intimately as I can because I wanted to be selective. I did not believe in calling up my platoon and saying, "I need six volunteers." That's nonsense. If I've got a mission that's a deadly one, I'm going to surround myself with men that I can depend upon, men who are well trained and who have the discipline. And so I got to know every one of them. ... When I felt that a man was getting close to breaking up, the stress was too great, 'cause all of us are in the same condition. We need a little break. I would see to it that there was some reason without losing face -- I remember, for example, I took off a fellow's glasses. I said, "It's dirty." And I made believe I was cleaning it and I dropped it and I stepped on it. And I said, "Oh, I'm sorry." I said, "You better go back and get a new pair." Well, we all had extra pairs in the duffel bag, but I said, "You go back and get a new one." And then I'd call up the captain and I would say, "Keep him there for about a week. Don't send him back."

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