Ceremony recalls Inouye's bravery
By Bruce Smith
Associated Press Writer
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A bugler sounded taps and a lone bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" as Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai'i, stood at attention and a wreath was placed on the grave of Gen. Mark Clark at The Citadel's campus.
The Citadel
The lawmaker, accompanied by a cadet honor guard, paused yesterday to remember his World War II commanding general after helping break ground for The Citadel's signature Padgett-Thomas Barracks.
Sen. Dan Inouye paid homage yesterday to the grave of Gen. Mark Clark, commander of the Fifth Army and former Citadel president. Inouye, who served under Clark, helped break ground for a $27 million Citadel barracks. Hawai'i cadets Frank Christopher Baez and Kealiihooululahui M. Ichimura delivered graveside salutes.
Inouye served under Clark in the Fifth Army in Europe and lost his right arm in the fighting.
Clark later served as president of this military college. He died in 1984.
U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., credited Inouye with securing the $15 million in federal money that will be used to build the new $27 million barracks. Inouye is chairman of the Senate Defense appropriations subcommittee.
Hollings introduced Inouye as "the bravest of the brave" and recounted how Inouye led his troops in capturing a ridge defended by three German machine-gun nests despite losing his arm and suffering other wounds in the process.
"Gen. Clark said, 'You know the fightingest outfit that I ever had under my command was that regimental combat team from Hawai'i. They just wouldn't stop. They just kept going forward,"' Hollings said.
The old Padgett-Thomas Barracks, built in 1922 and demolished last year, was the first built when the college moved to its present campus from downtown Charleston.
Work on the new barracks begins in June and should be done by fall 2004.
