THE HERO OF HACKSAW RIDGE: Desmond Doss
The Real Story of Desmond Doss
Introduction: Desmond Thomas Doss (February 7, 1919 — March 23, 2006) was in the United States Army and served as a combat Medic inWorld War II. He was awarded two Bronze Star Medals for his contributions on the island of Guam. Doss continued to stand out in the battle of Okinawa by rescuing 75 men. For his wartime acts, he was the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor. He was a conscientious objector who chose to fight, fight in a way that would help people.
Early life: Doss was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was a Seventh-day Adventist, sabbath-keeping religious boy. He grew up in the heights area of Lynchburg, Virginia, with his sister Audrey and brother Harold.
Service in World War II: Prior to the start of World War II, Desmond was working in a shipyard at the time. He could easily have gotten a deferment. Instead, when his Uncle Sam called, he gladly answered. And this young man began his army training at a base in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. His beliefs didn’t allow him to carry weapons, but Desmond still chose to take part in the war in a way that would help people and save lives. So he joins up as a medic. The idea of a conscientious objector wasn’t understood well at the time. Desmond actually wanted to be a conscientious cooperator but not with a gun. Medic Desmond Doss would be transformed from the most reviled to the most revered soldier.
Training days: He began his training with the 77th Infantry Division at the base. He refused to bear arms or carry a weapon in the midst of constant enemy fire. Several officers insisted he had to train with weapons, even if he was a medic. He had barely survived his training days because of his refusal to carry a weapon. He had the wild idea that he could serve his country at war and also obey the command “Thou shalt not kill”. Most of his comrades mocked and harassed him. His officers tried to get him discharged, thrown out of the army. He tolerated a lot of disdain and abuse. Often, at night, as he knelt quietly by his bed to pray, they would throw boots at him. They just couldn’t understand this guy who would want to obey the words “Thou shalt not kill” in the midst of a war. Some officers tried hard to humiliate Desmond, to force a weapon on him, even to get rid of him with a dishonorable discharge. He was unwilling to compromise his convictions. that showed his true fortitude and character.
On the island of Guam: It begin on the 21st of July, 1944. Allied soldiers landing at Asan Beach on the island of Guam. They had to withdraw it from the Japanese soldiers, firing with machine guns and artillery, dug into pillboxes and caves. They had established strong, defensive positions all along the bank. Many serviceman had to immolate their lives. Much blood would be poured out on the Guam beaches. Many casualties would be dispersed throughout the island’s jungle interior. On the battlefield, he was committed to saving lives. But on the island of Guam. Doss encountered a unique issue. While fighting in the jungle, Allied troops began to realize the Japanese were actually targeting medics. It was their way of trying to break down morale. More and more were being shot at as they cared for the wounded. So many medics took off their red crosses. They tried to just fit in with the infantrymen. But Desmond Doss began to stand out.
On the island of Okinawa: This is where everything started changing. As his regiment became involved in combat missions, Desmond’s true courage shines. This is where that weird religious guy became something of an icon. No one else seemed so dedicated to helping his fellow soldiers, even with enemy bullets whizzing by his head. Desmond was determine to save life instead of take life.
Desmond himself would put it this way “I was fighting for freedom by trying to save life. because I couldn’t picture Christ out there, with a gun, killing people, but I could think of him out there with a medical aid kit”. It was here on the island of Okinawa that this unique medic would truly make history. He landed there with the 77th Infantry Division in April 1945. It was the final push towards the Japanese home islands. The battle was an extremely difficult one, made worst by the cliffs and the rough terrain. And It all happened here, at the Maeda Escarpment also known as Hacksaw Ridge. The Japanese had completely fortified the Escarpment. Lots of pillboxes, a maze of tunnels and caves, and of course, soldiers armed to the teeth. But now orders came down from 10th Army headquarters. This ridge, Hacksaw Ridge, was to be taken at all costs. Now the men of Company B, covered by sweeping fire from rear, moved up and over the Escarpment and managed to throw a few explosives down a large pillbox entry. Okinawa’s defenders poured out of caves, tunnels everywhere, screaming, firing riffles and tossing grenades. As soldiers rushed madly back towards the cliff and tumbled down the cargo net. Many were caught by the enemy fire. Only one man remained on top doing his job. And that was Desmond Doss, tending to the wounded and fallen. Desmond had about 12 hours of light to get them down. One wounded man after another taken to the ridge, lowered with a bowline. The men looking up could hardly believe what was happening.
“Time after time, I saw Doss go back into the enemy, into the Japanese, and pick up wounded, and the bullets were flying like bees or something, I couldn’t understand how he could do this”-said a Rifleman. Desmond kept praying, “Lord please help me get one more”. And it kept succeeding, even though when he had to stand up at the edge of the cliff to begin lowering each wounded man, the Japanese had a clear angle on his head and shoulders. Somehow, none of the bullets whizzing by caught this medic.
Years later in fact, one of those Japanese soldiers would actually recall that he had Desmond in his sights, but his gun jammed every time he pulled the trigger. This lone medic did spend 12 hours up there. He joined the war to help and heal. That day, 75 men would owe their lives to him. He rescued 75 single handedly, under intense enemy fire, without ever firing a gun. There was one more assault on the Maeda Escarpment. This one would prove the final one. The Captain tried to prepared his men for what he knew would be the fight of their lives. Some were new recruits sent in to replace of the heavy casualties and there was one man Captain especially wanted along on this mission. He walked over to a medic, who sat nursing a leg he had injured in a tumble over the cliff. Captain said, “Doss, I know you don’t have to go on this mission, but the men would like to have you with them and so would I”. Then he noticed Desmond’s eyes, sunk deep into dark sockets, his shoulders slumped, exhausted, he hadn’t even had time to change his cotton uniform, now covered in the dried blood of the men he had saved. But this medic didn’t hesitate. “I’ll go, Captain”, he said. This medic joined his buddies and they finally took Hacksaw Ridge for good.
Post-war life: After the battle, he kept working as a carpenter, but the damage to his left arm hardy made him do so. In 1946, he was found to have TB. For five a half year, he received treatment, which cost him a lung and five ribs. He was discharged from hospital in August 1951 with 90% disability. He kept receiving treatment. However, he was granted 100% disability after an antibiotic overdose in 1976, he became deaf. He was able to regain his hearing after cochlear implant in 1988. Doss passed away on March 23, 2006, after being admitted to the hospital for lung problem. On April 3, 2006, he was laid to rest in Chattanooga, Tennessee’s national cemetery.
What a long way he had traveled from those barracks in Fort Jackson, the most reviled soldier had become the most revered soldier. How different he had become in the eyes of those men who once threw their boots at him. They saw this skinny guy with glasses, this awkward youngster who had a hard time fitting in, they saw him become a hero, much larger than life, and they would find a way to express their admiration.
