The True Story Of An American War Hero: Desmond Doss

Discover the inspiring tale of Desmond Doss, the World War II combat medic who saved 75 lives all while risking his own.

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Desmond Doss was born on February 7, 1919 in Lynchburg, Virginia. His father Thomas Doss was a carpenter and him mother, Bertha Edward Doss, a factory worker and a homemaker. He grew up alongside his older sister Audrey and younger brother Harold together in Fairview Heights area of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Desmond was raised to be a devoted Christian by his mother and instilled Sabbath-keeping and nonviolence in his upbringing.
He attended the Park Avenue Seventh day Adventist Church school until he got to his eight grade and he often works at the Lynchburg lumber company to support his family.
Desmond is a genuine human being with virtuous qualities, he derives joy in helping others. He once walked six miles to donate blood to an accident victim who was a complete stranger, after hearing about the need for blood on a local radio station.

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pictures are from the movie Hacksaw Ridge

He was working as a joiner at a naval shipyard in New Port News, Virginia when Pearl harbor was attacked, he could have requested for deferment but he wanted to do more for his country. He was willing to risk his life in the front line in other to preserve freedom.

On April 1, 1942 Desmond Doss joined the United States Army, little did he realize that it would be the biggest moment of his life. He wanted to serve as a Combat Medic, he then assumed that his classification as a Conscientious Objector (someone who refuses to fight or do harm in an armed conflict because of religious or moral principles) would exclude him from carrying a weapon. As luck would have it he was assigned to an infantry rifle company. Desmond was compelled to carry a gun but his refusal caused a lot of trouble among his fellow soldiers, they felt how would a combat medic save us in battle ground if he couldn't even fight the enemy by not carrying any weapon into battle. They called Desmond a misfit and viewed him with distain.
One soldier once told him, "Doss, as soon as we get into combat, i'll make sure you won't come back alive."

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His commanding officers also wanted to get rid of him, they saw him as a liability and considered his refusal to bear arms as disobedience to direct order. Nobody believed a soldier without a weapon was worthwhile.
They tried generally to intimidate him, scold him, intentionally assign him extra tough duties, and declared him mentally unfit for the army.

Desmond faced many adversaries but prevailed. Then they attempted to court martial him for refusing a direct order to carry a gun. But then again they failed to come up with a way to toss him out, with Desmond also refusing to leave. He believed his most important duty is to obey God and serve his country. Desmond had been raised with a fervent belief in the bible. When it came to the Ten Commandments, he applied them personally.
Desmond adhered strictly to the Commandments of God and one of the Ten Commandments, which says "Thou shalt not kill" he held really important in his heart, in Desmond's mind, God said, "If you love me, you won't kill". He determined that he would never take a life.

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The army was also pissed off to discover that he had yet another personal requirement. He requested for a weekly pass so he could be able to attend church every saturday.
While Desmond always engaged in reading his bible, his fellow soldiers saw it as distraction. They bullied him, called him awful names and cursed him. His commanding officers also made things difficult for him.
Despite all this, Desmond still helped anyone who needed medical attention, in fact he helped with joy. Desmond never held a grudge. With kindness and gentle Courtney he treated those who had mistreated him in one way or the other.

Image SourceThe Americans in Okinawa. April 13, 1945.

Desmond served in combat on the islands of Guam, Leyte, and Okinawa. In each military operation he excellently exhibited extraordinary dedication to his fellow men. While others were taking life, he was busy saving life. Whenever the cry, "medic" rang out on the battlefield, he never stopped to considered his own safety. He repeatedly ran into the heat of battle to treat a fallen comrade and carry him back to safety. All this, while enemy bullets whizzed past and mortar shells exploded around him. Several times, while treating a wounded soldier, Desmond was so close to enemy lines, he could hear the whispering of Japanese voices.

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Marines destroy a Japanese cave during the Battle of Okinawa. May 1945.

In May 1945 while the German troops were surrendering gradually, the Japanese troops were determined to defend to the last man if necessary, the only remaining barrier (Okinawa and the Maeda Escarpment) to an allied invasion to their homeland. While the men in Desmond's division were repeatedly trying hard to capture the Maeda Escarpment they were faced with vicious Japanese soldiers in the Hacksaw Ridge.

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Marines in combat during the Battle of Okinawa. May 1945.

After several battle the company had managed to secure the top of the cliff, the Americans were totally stunned when suddenly the enemy forces rushed them in an aggressive counterattack, which lead to officers ordering an immediate retreat.

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Soldiers were forced to climb back down the steep cliff as it seemed to be the only way to escape the enemy attack. All soldiers climbed back down except one. Less than one third of the men made it back down the steep cliff, while the rest lay wounded and scattered across enemy soil abandoned and left for dead, if they weren't already.

One lone soldier disobeyed orders and fought all odds, he charged back with courage, deep into the firefight to rescue as many of his men as he could possible. His brave and strong determination and unflagging courage resulted in at least 75 lives saved that day, May 5th, 1945, his Sabbath.

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Eventually, after persistent fighting, the Americans took Hacksaw Ridge. Okinawa was captured inch by inch in a bloody battle.
Several days latter during an unsuccessful night raid, Desmond was severally wounded. Hiding in a shell hole with two riflemen, a Japanese grenade landed pretty close to his feet, the explosion sent him flying. Unfortunately the shrapnel tore into his leg and up to his hip. He treated his own wounds all by himself as best as he could, while attempting to reach safety, he was hit by an enemy sniper bullet that painfully shattered his arm. His brave action as a combat medic came to an end. But no before insisting that his litter-bearers take another man first before rescuing him. Wounded, in pain, and losing blood, he still puts others ahead of his own safety.

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Not only did Doss leave no man behind, he also miraculously escaped with his own life and avoided any serious injury. Doss always claimed that God spared his life, and according to The Conscientious Objector , Japanese soldiers repeatedly had Doss in their sights
only to have their guns jam.

This selfless acts that Desmond displayed are due to the teachings of the Bible and his upbringing.

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Of the 16 million men in uniform during World War II, only 431 received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

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Private First Class Desmond Doss received the Congressional Medal of Honour, the country’s highest award for military bravery. One of these was placed around the neck of a young Seventh-day Adventist, who during combat had not killed a single enemy soldier. In fact, he refused to carry a gun. His only weapons were his Bible and his faith in God.

Image SourceDesmond Doss shakes hands with President Harry S. Truman after receiving the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House on October 12, 1945.

President Harry S. Truman warmly shook the hand of Corporal Desmond Thomas Doss, and then held it the entire time his citation was read aloud to those gathered outside the White House on October 12, 1945. "I'm proud of you," Truman said. "You really deserve this. I consider this a greater honor than being president."

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Doss married Dorothy Pauline Schutte on August 17, 1942, she was a nurse he got to know when he went to donate blood at a hospital. They had one child, Desmond "Tommy" Doss Jr.,
born in 1946. Dorothy died on November 17, 1991, from a car accident. Doss remarried on July 1, 1993, to
Frances May Duman.

Doss was wounded three times during the war, and shortly before leaving the Army he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which cost him a lung and five ribs. Discharged from the Army in 1946, he spent five years undergoing medical treatment for his injuries and illness.
Desmond Doss died in 2006 at his home in Piedmont, Alabama, after being hospitalized for breathing troubles. He was buried in Chattanooga, Tennessee's National Cemetery.

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Mel Gibson directed a movie illustrating the life of Desmond Doss, titled Hacksaw Ridge which received a 10-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. Standing ovations are not common occurrences at this festival, much less for movies with a Christian faith theme.

The Academy Award-winning film
Hacksaw Ridge brought Desmond Doss to the attention of countless people who’d heard neither the man’s name nor his incredible story ever before.

Check out the movie trailer for Hacksaw Ridge

Desmond Doss, The Very Definition Of A Hero