Desmond Doss was an extraordinary war hero from World War II who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman. Despite being a staunch pacifist and conscientious objector, he was a combat medic and saved the lives of many. He is the first of three conscientious objectors to receive the Medal of Honor. Doss was also given the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, despite never even touching a weapon while in service.

During his time at bootcamp, Doss faced great discouragement and harassment from his peers at the camp, as well as from his superior officers. He was ridiculed and threatened many times, and some soldiers and officers even tried to get him discharged, but he never gave up.

At the Battle of Okinawa, also known as Hacksaw Ridge, Doss is credited with rescuing 75 wounded soldiers and even some infantrymen from the opposing side over a 12 hour period. Doss himself said he believed the number could have been 100, while others say only 50, but the official number of men he saved is 75, which is still a remarkable amount. He was the only medic left one week into the battle, since the battle occurred before the Geneva Conventions of 1949 so medics on the field weren’t protected.

While his fellow soldiers retreated to the escarpment, Doss stayed on the battlefield to treat wounded soldiers. He carried them to the cliff’s edge one by one and lowered them down with a rope to the people who were stationed at the bottom of the cliff. Every time he lowered someone to the bottom, he got back up and prayed, “Dear God, help me get one more.” He said that every time he went back onto the battlefield to rescue another soldier.

In brief, Desmond Doss was an amazing war hero from World War II. He saved the lives of many and has inspired many others. I believe more people should know about him and the great work he did during World War II. Unfortunately, Doss died in 2006, but the movie “Hacksaw Ridge” is a biography of his work at the Battle of Okinawa, and is a great movie to watch. If you plan on watching it, please read the content warnings before doing so because it is a war movie!