Just one more

As a military veteran, I have always been fascinated by heroic feats performed by military personnel in times of duress. I visited Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia in 2015. If you have not visited this beautiful cemetery, I highly recommend it. The final resting places of former president John F. Kennedy, Audie Murphy, Ira Hayes, and actor Lee Marvin are all worth visiting. I also recommend you watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before you leave.

As many veterans before me, I once made a vow to serve and protect our country. What does it mean to honor a vow with conviction? Our daily lives are filled with promises. We might promise to take our family out to dinner or even to King’s Island.

But when you take a vow, it becomes a little more serious. If you are married, you know what I mean. There is no doubt that marriage is the most important vow we can ever make. As part of the vow, you promise to be with your partner forever, in sickness and in health until death parts you.

Based on American’s high divorce rate, many people don’t consider a vow anything more than a few empty words. But what does honoring a vow mean? How many people would willingly sacrifice their lives to honor a vow? Probably not many.

This week’s story is about Desmond Doss, who saved 75 soldiers without firing a single shot. Doss was a conscientious objector. He was a Virginian who wanted to serve his country during World War II without killing anyone. He had vowed never to pick up a gun. In contrast, the Japanese army didn’t share Doss’ view.

As a combat medic, Doss wanted to preserve life, not take it. To serve his country, Doss had an uphill battle.

Due to his refusal to kill, he was physically assaulted by his fellow soldiers and called a coward. Doss’ superiors did everything in their power to kick him out of the military. Despite this, Doss refused to compromise his beliefs. In spite of facing discharge for refusing to pick up a weapon, he remained steadfast in his beliefs.

It was in early May of 1945 when he found himself in the midst of the bloody Battle of Okinawa. Doss’s unit was assigned to the 77th Infantry Division and deployed to the Pacific Theater. His unit relieved the 96th Infantry division.

After Doss and his fellow American forces engaged in a fierce battle with Japanese soldiers, the Americans were forced to retreat. However, Doss stayed behind. While remaining on the battlefield, he rescued 75 wounded men and lowered them to safety. Every time he returned to the battlefield, he asked God for one more wounded soldier to save.

Desmond Doss was a Christian man who vowed never to pick up a weapon or kill anyone. Carrying his bible and living a good Christian life were priorities for him. For his beliefs, he was willing to go to prison or be expelled from the military. For his courage under fire, he received the Medal of Honor. Doss is the subject of a movie titled Hacksaw Ridge. I highly recommend watching this movie.

Taking a stand for what you believe in is not something many people do willingly. Thankfully, there have always been proud men who have stood up for their beliefs and were willing to die for what they believed in. The Revolutionary War involved Americans standing up to King George III. It was many years later, during the Civil War, that more brave Americans would fight to keep America as a united country. American history has proven that even the meekest lamb can become the fiercest lion when pushed too far.

Today, there is an ongoing war against Christianity and those who believe in the Bible.

There are nations that don’t allow the Bible or its teachings. Those who violate this law may end up in jail or worse. During the Revolutionary War, Americans fought for their right to worship as they wished. A great number of Americans sacrificed their lives to protect this right.

If the Bible were outlawed in the United States, I often wonder what would happen. Is this something that people would willingly risk prison or even death for? Would you be willing to be as steadfast as Desmond Doss?

Marc is a longtime resident of Clermont County and an avid reader. Contact him through his website at www.themarcabe.com or through Facebook: www.Facebook.com/themarcabe or his twitter account @themarcabe. Marc also has a podcast called Catch my Killer where he interviews family members seeking justice for their murdered loved ones. You can listen at www.catchmykiller.com.