In 1942, Dole joined the United States Army's Enlisted Reserve Corps to fight in World War II. He became a Second Lieutenant in the Army's 10th Mountain Division.
In April of 1945, while engaged in combat in the hills of northern Italy, he was hit by German machine gun fire in his upper right back. His right arm was also injured so badly that it was unrecognizable. He had to wait nine hours on the battlefield before being taken to the Fifteenth Evacuation Hospital. He began his recovery at a U.S. Army hospital in Michigan, where he met future fellow politician Daniel Inouye. His right arm was paralyzed; Dole often carries a pen in his right hand to signal that he cannot shake hands with that arm.
Dole was twice decorated for heroism, receiving two Purple Hearts for his injuries, and the Bronze Star Medal with combat "V" for valor for his attempt to assist a downed radio man.
Despite his age, he's, at worst, a very good interim posting.
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I'd rather be historically accurate than politically correct.
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