Unarmed and without medic markings so the Japanese wouldn’t identify him, Doss continuously put himself in harm’s way to treat those wounded under enemy fire. On May 5, 1945, his Sabbath, Desmond was called to fight at the Battle of Okinawa at Maeda Escarpment, a.k.a. Fact #7: Armed With Only Faith and a Bible In 1945, Desmond and his unit were sent to Okinawa, where he demonstrated remarkable courage and commitment to his fellow Soldiers. Later that same year, he was deployed to Leyte in the Philippines. Fact #6: Deployed to Guam, Leyte, and Okinawaĭoss was first deployed to Guam and served there until 1944. This caused him to nearly miss seeing his brother, Harold, who had joined the Navy. Unsuccessful, he instead denied Doss leave. Standing firm in his desire to serve both his country and uphold his religious beliefs, Doss refused to be discharged.Īnother officer tried to have Doss court-martialed for refusing to hold a rifle. ![]() Desmond’s commanding officers repeatedly tried to have him discharged for mental illness. Fact #5: Several Failed Discharge Attemptsĭuring his time in the Army, several attempts were made to discharge Doss. Determined to serve, Doss continued to appeal the Army’s decision until they decided to make him a medic. With this assignment, they hoped it would be enough for Doss to give up and leave the Army. ![]() Under the assumption that he would be a combat medic, and classifying himself as a conscientious objector, Doss was shocked when he was assigned to an Infantry Rifle Company. Fact #4: Assigned to an Infantry Rifle Company As a devout Seventh Day Adventist, he refused to carry a gun. Fact #3: The Conscientious Objectorĭesmond’s unwavering religious views prohibited him from harming another human being or participating in any act that could cause harm. Heeding this call, Desmond enlisted in the Army Medical Corps as a noncombatant in 1942. Doss felt that God was calling him to serve his country. Fact #2: Enlisted in the ArmyĪfter receiving word of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Desmond T. With a strong commitment to the Bible and the Ten Commandments, his upbringing fundamentally shaped his beliefs, including his strong views against killing and not working on the Sabbath, which he observed on Saturday. was born on February 7, 1919, in Lynchburg, Virginia. More like this: 11 of the Best Military Movies in 2022 to Binge-Watch Now 12 Fascinating Facts About Desmond Doss Fact #1: Raised in the Seventh Day Adventist Churchĭesmond Thomas Doss Jr. What is the story behind this Soldier who refused to carry a gun yet managed to save over 75 lives? Join us as we take a look at the fascinating life of this war hero. Truman shook his hand while Doss officially became the first (and only) conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II. I just kept praying, 'Lord, please help me get one more.On October 12, 1945, standing on the White House lawn, Desmond Doss made history. In Benedict's documentary, Doss says: "I was praying the whole time. ![]() He dragged severely injured men to the edge of the ridge, tied a rope around their bodies and lowered them down to other medics below. Under a barrage of gunfire and explosions, Doss crawled on the ground from wounded soldier to wounded soldier. ".The Japanese called it 'the rain of steel' because there was so much iron flying around." "It was full of caves and holes and the Japanese were dug in underground," says Mel Gibson, who re-created the battle in Hacksaw Ridge. And at Okinawa in the spring of 1945, Doss' company faced a grueling task: Climb a steep, jagged cliff - sometimes called Hacksaw Ridge - to a plateau where thousands of heavily armed Japanese soldiers were waiting for them. A 1940 law allowed conscientious objectors to serve the war effort in "noncombatant" positions, so Doss went with his company as a medic to the Pacific theater. During the battle, Doss (seen here at the top of Hacksaw Ridge) dragged severely injured men to the edge of the ridge and lowered them down to other medics below.īut hard as they tried, the Army couldn't force Doss to use a weapon.
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