---
title: "This World War II hero was shot multiple times and still managed to destroy three machine gun nests"
date: "2018-04-02"
modified: "2020-10-21"
authors:
  - name: "Team Mighty"
    job_title: "Author"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/teammighty/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-world-war-ii-hero-was-shot-multiple-times-and-still-managed-to-destroy-three-machine-gun-nests/"
categories:
  - "History"
  - "War History"
  - "World War II"
---

# This World War II hero was shot multiple times and still managed to destroy three machine gun nests

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17219057/origin.jpg>)

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17219056/origin.jpg>)
*United States Army First Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II.*

---

Senator Daniel Inouye served in WWII and was seriously injured while attacking a German position along a ridge in Tuscany. He stood to throw a grenade into a machine gun nest, when one of the gunners shot him in the stomach. Inouye ignored the wound and killed the machine gunners with his Thompson SMG.

Instead of getting out of combat, Inouye continued the attack and destroyed a second machine gun nest before collapsing from blood loss. After collapsing, Inouye crawled toward a third machine gun nest to continue the assault. As he prepared to throw another grenade, a German RPG severed his right arm. He used his left hand to remove the live grenade from his dead right arm and tossed it into the machine gun nest.

After destroying three German positions, being shot in the stomach, having an arm severed by an RPG, and nearly being blown up with his own grenade, Inouye got up and ran around the ridge, shooting at the remaining Germans with his left hand. He continued to do so until he was shot in the leg, fell off the cliff, and was knocked unconscious at the bottom.

When he awoke in a hospital, his friends told him what he had done. He replied, "No. That's impossible. Only a crazy person would do that."

Read more from Josh Stein [here](<https://www.quora.com/Josh-Stein-9>).

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## Author
Team Mighty's experience encompasses intel, special ops, military history, tactical expertise, aviation, gear, and weapons. Authors on Team Mighty include veterans, spouses, and active and reserve service members from every branch of the military, as well as former CIA employees.