The Unbelievable Story of Desmond Doss

When Desmond Doss joined the United States Army on April 1, 1942, he had no idea that he would be honored with the nation's highest award for his remarkable bravery and courage in battle. It was only three and a half years later that he found himself standing on the White House lawn, receiving the prestigious award.

Desmond Doss the "Conscientious Cooperator"

More than 70,000 men were designated as conscientious objectors during World War II, primarily due to their religious opposition to war. While some refused to serve, around 25,000 joined the US armed forces in noncombat roles, such as medics and chaplains.

Desmond T. Doss, who came from Lynchburg, Virginia, was one of those men, even though he rejected the label of conscientious objector.

Doss was brought up with strong religious convictions, attending a Seventh-day Adventist church that instilled in him a deep respect for the Bible. He firmly opposed killing and working on Saturdays, the Sabbath day he observed as a Seventh-day Adventist.

When the US became involved in the war, Doss was working at the Newport News Naval Shipyard. While many expected him to apply for a deferment, Doss felt a sense of duty to serve his country and help his fellow man.

When he was drafted in the spring of 1942, he did not object to enlistment on the grounds of being a conscientious objector. Rather than shunning the war effort, he believed in its justness and wanted to play his part in saving lives. For this reason, Doss preferred to describe himself as a "conscientious cooperator."

Desmond Tried To Adapt in Camp

Despite his conscientious objector status, Doss underwent the standard basic training, although he was excused from weapons training and granted permission to attend church on Saturdays, his Sabbath day. Despite his willingness to participate and his sense of duty to his unit, boot camp was a challenging experience for Doss.

His commanding officers made several attempts to discharge Doss, whom they saw as a coward and a liability to the unit. They tried to have him discharged for mental illness, but he refused, citing his religion.

Desmond Doss Acts of Valor

In 1944, Doss was deployed to the Pacific as a member of the medical detachment of the 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division.

The 307th Infantry Regiment moved into the line on Okinawa on April 29, taking up position on the top of the Maeda Escarpment, also known as Hacksaw Ridge.

The Japanese had spent years digging tunnels and creating an intricate network of fortifications in the hill.

The escarpment was a 400-foot high cliff. The top 35 feet had an overhang, and cargo nets were used to reach the summit. The men of the 307th fought against the heavily fortified Japanese forces for several days. The Japanese shot so much that one soldier lost his head. Despite being unarmed, Doss treated the wounded soldiers while under attack.

He removed any signs that he was a medic because the Japanese targeted medics. Doss risked his life multiple times to aid his fallen comrades, even though they had once threatened him. He bravely put himself in harm's way to save them.

As of May 5, the fighting had escalated to the point that all the men were instructed to withdraw. However, Doss refused to do so, as around 75 injured soldiers were still stranded at the top of the escarpment and unable to retreat on their own.

Doss was determined to rescue them and used a special knot he knew to lower them to safety. Miraculously, Doss was not injured during the rescue operation.

On May 21, Doss was wounded multiple times by grenade fragments and a sniper's bullet that went through his arm. Despite his injuries, he continued prioritizing the treatment of others, refusing medical assistance until those more severely wounded were taken care of.

Due to the extent of his injuries, Doss was evacuated in late May. After returning home, he spent several years recuperating from his wounds and recovering from tuberculosis, which he had contracted while serving in Leyte.

On October 12, 1945, President Harry S. Truman awarded Doss with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held on the White House lawn. Truman shook Doss's hand and congratulated him, saying, "I'm proud of you. You really deserve this.

References:

Desmond Doss: The Real Story

The True Story Behind Hacksaw Ridge