Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Ship Commissioning
The USS Daniel Inouye was commissioned on December 8, 2021.
A ship's commissioning is the ceremony of placing a ship in active service.
The ceremonies involved are rooted in centuries-old Naval tradition.
To Form A More Perfect Union
December 8, 2021
The US Military went to great lengths to honor a new ship named after the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye from Hawaii. Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravely fighting in World War II. The Senator was also a longtime member and Chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, where he approved trillions of dollars in defense spending.
The Senator would have been pleased to see today's military drawing its strength from our country's diverse population. We currently have our first Black Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, and our fist Hispanic Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro. When young Dan Inouye enlisted in 1943, America's military was racially segregated. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was setup for ethnic Japanese Americans who, like negro soldiers, were not allowed to live, work, or fight among white soldiers. President Truman ended military segregation in 1948. Sixteen years later, Dan Inouye was the junior senator from Hawaii
where he played an important role in ending racial discrimination throughout America. President Johnson relied on Senator Inouye to be his point man in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Senator Inouye again worked behind the scenes in 2010 to help President Obama repeal "Don't ask, don't tell," allowing gay people to serve openly in the Armed Forces.
Up to the podium came Senator inouye's only child, his son Daniel Ken Inouye Jr.
Ken spoke from his heart, informally, without notes. The audience could tell he was channeling his father's wisdom. Ken remembered his father always told him when the issue was really important, to just "Talk Story." You can build bridges by talking story. Ken told us how his father always spoke about the third line in our Constitution, and how our country is always working towards a "more perfect union." His father and others faced discrimination while serving. As we strive for a more perfect union, "what seemed right at one time, may not be just, many years later." The irony wasn't lost on the fact that "a guy who was originally considered unfit for military service because of his race, and classified as 4C was having a ship named after him." Initially, women were not allowed to even serve on war ships of the type that was before us that day. Now, this ship is commanded by a woman.
The USS Daniel Inouye and its remarkable crew is a majestic symbol of our nation striving to form a more perfect union. -- Gloria C. Borland
On Board with the crew
The Ship's Commander
Ship's Weapons Officer
The Ship's Commander
Commander DonAnn Gilmore
Crew from Hawaii
Ship's Weapons Officer
The Ship's Commander
Chace Bee - Hilo and Tyler Sato - Honolulu
Ship's Weapons Officer
Ship's Weapons Officer
Ship's Weapons Officer
Lieutenant Beatriz Talerico
DDG 118
Ship's Life Ring
Ship's Life Ring
Ship's Life Ring
Safety
Captain's Bridge
Ship's Life Ring
Ship's Life Ring
The Command
Sen. Inouye Mementos throughout ship
Mess Galley
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
"Go For Broke" on tables
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
On the walls is the story of the 442 Regimental Combat Team.
Medals
Purple Heart
Medals
Daniel Inouye medals on display in the crew's mess galley.
Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer
DDG 118
Guided-Missle Destroyer
Guided-Missle Destroyer
USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) Home ported in Pearl Harbor on Nov. 18, 2021
Guided-Missle Destroyer
Guided-Missle Destroyer
Guided-Missle Destroyer
Built in Navy shipyard Bath, Maine.
Christening
Guided-Missle Destroyer
Christening
Ship Christened June 2019
Mast Stepping Ceremony
From his mother
From his mother
From his mother
Sealed inside the ship's mast is a 100-year-old Japanese language Bible that belonged to his mother Kame Inouye.
Protect sailors
From his mother
From his mother
Traditions says the items in the time capsule Metal Box bring the ship good luck and protect sailors on their voyages.
Safe Voyage
From his mother
Safe Voyage
Video excerpts from a similar
Navy Mast Stepping Ceremony.
Battle Flag
The ship’s seal used in the battle flag was designed and gifted by Senator’s daughter-in-law, Jessica Inouye (Ken’s wife) who is serving as a Co-Matron of Honor for the USS Daniel Inouye.
Sugar Cane
Symbolizes the Senator's immigrant roots and family's beginnings in Hawaii as sugar cane plantation workers.
"GO FOR BROKE" motto & 442 torch
Central elements of the seal that symbolize the incredible bravery, fighting spirit, and lasting legacy of the 442 Regimental Combat Team that the Senator served in during WWII.
Volcano
A symbol of Hawaii, where the Senator was born and where the ship will be stationed. The red diamond pattern wrapped around the volcano is a reference to the feathered cloak of King Kamehameha I, the great warrior king who united the Hawaiian islands. This ties in with the ship's warrior theme.