There was once a humble, ordinary American who wished to serve his country to the best of his ability, so he volunteered to join the military during World War II. Due to his devout religious beliefs, he refused to take lives, and thus, he declined to carry a gun to kill enemies. He aspired to save lives on the battlefield, not to harm them.
This American’s name was Desmond Doss (1919-2006). The film is the 2016 release Hacksaw Ridge, which received a strong positive reaction, garnering six Oscar nominations and winning two.
Becoming a combat medic
After facing numerous challenges, Doss eventually became a combat medic. From then on, he wrote an astonishing legend on the blood-soaked battlefields of World War II, with each chapter of his story closely tied to his unwavering faith in God. Only through this steadfast faith could he achieve what seemed impossible.
Upon returning from the war, he became a hero in the eyes of the people. His deeds were widely known across America, and after his passing, his wartime experiences were made into a film that took the world by storm. People were moved not only by his legendary feats, but also by the miracles he created on the battlefield, driven by his devout faith in God.
A vow of non-violence
Doss was deeply influenced by his mother from a young age, becoming a devout Christian who vowed never to wield weapons or kill, adhering strictly to the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” from the Bible. His mother once told him: “Killing is the greatest sin! Taking another person’s life is a grave sin in the eyes of the Lord, causing Him immense sorrow.”
When World War II broke out, many enlisted to serve their country and help bring peace. Doss also volunteered to join the military.
Facing challenges in the military
Doss wanted to be a medic, but was mistakenly assigned to an infantry unit instead of a medical team. As one can imagine, a soldier who refused to carry a gun was a joke in the army. Doss faced ostracism and even physical assault from his comrades. However, when his superiors asked him to identify those who had attacked him, he refused to name anyone. Despite numerous hardships and even facing a court-martial for disobeying orders to carry a gun, Doss remained steadfast in his decision to stay in the army without bearing arms.
Doss had a profound conversation with his superior:
- Superior: “I, like everyone else, revere the Bible and struggle with my conscience. But what would you do when everything you value is under attack?”
- Doss: “I don’t know. I have no answer to such deep questions. But I do feel that what I value is being criticized, and I don’t know why.”
- Superior: “I don’t care about your principles because the Japanese soldiers we’re fighting don’t care. If a Japanese soldier attacks you and the wounded soldiers, what will you do? Hit him with the Bible?”
- Doss: “I am always ready to sacrifice my life for my brothers.”
- Superior: “Sacrificing your life won’t win the war. I’m here because I don’t want to see you rot in a cell. Plead guilty and beg for mercy. Maybe they’ll let you go home and pray, leaving the fighting to the brave.”
Proving his worth on the battlefield
Doss never held a grudge against his superior. On the battlefield, he saved the comrades who had beaten him and even a superior who had constantly troubled him. Despite numerous challenges, Doss never wavered and eventually became a medic, heading to the front lines. While others went to the front with weapons, Doss brought his unwavering faith in God and a firm belief in saving lives.
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed “Operation Iceberg” by the Allies, was a significant battle on the island of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. It was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater of World War II and the war’s last major battle. The battle lasted from early April to mid-June 1945, spanning 82 days.
The Battle of Okinawa was the bloodiest in the Pacific Theater of World War II, with the highest number of casualties. The U.S. military suffered over 84,000 casualties, including 14,000 deaths or missing soldiers. It was the bloodiest battle the U.S. military experienced in the Pacific War and the second bloodiest battle of World War II.
In April 1945, Doss’s infantry division was ordered to capture a cliff on the island known as Maeda Escarpment or Hacksaw Ridge. Hacksaw Ridge was heavily fortified and difficult to capture. The U.S. military made several attempts to take the cliff, only to be repelled by the Japanese each time.
During one counterattack, they managed to take the cliff at night, but the Japanese soon launched a fierce counteroffensive, causing heavy casualties among the U.S. forces. The battlefield was intense, with soldiers being blown to pieces within minutes of joining the fight. The sight was horrific, reminding us that today’s peace was hard-won and should be cherished.
A hero’s unwavering faith
The unit received orders to retreat. Everyone withdrew except for Doss, who voluntarily chose to stay on the cliff. Amid the raging battle, this was an incredibly reckless decision! Doss decided to fulfill his vow to save lives on the battlefield. He heard the cries of his wounded comrades and felt a divine calling. In a moment of life and death, Doss completely let go of his fear for his safety and plunged into the smoke-filled battlefield with a firm belief in saving lives.
Doss’s approach to saving lives was indiscriminate. As long as a comrade had a breath of life left, he would save them no matter how severely injured. Doss braved Japanese bullets to carry the wounded to the edge of the cliff, tying ropes around them and lowering them down to safety. Remarkably, he even saved injured Japanese soldiers and sent them down the cliff.
The top and bottom of the cliff were two completely different worlds. Those who made it to the bottom were essentially back to safety, while those left on the cliff faced certain death, as the Japanese would execute wounded American soldiers.
With each soldier Doss saved, he prayed to God to let him save one more. His hands were worn to the bone by the ropes, and he was utterly exhausted. Yet, he continued to pray for strength to save one more person. In this way, he saved one soldier after another. The American soldiers below were stunned to see a continuous stream of wounded being lowered down the cliff. In the end, Doss saved 75 soldiers and miraculously survived with only minor injuries. His superior, who thought Doss was a coward, was shocked and speechless. The man he had considered a coward was the bravest of them all, driven by unwavering faith. All the soldiers, including the superiors, looked at Doss with respect.
After descending the cliff, Doss quietly sat aside, reading the Bible. His superior approached him, sincerely seeking forgiveness. The superior said: “Your contribution to the country is greater than anyone else’s. I was completely wrong about you. I hope one day you can forgive me. We have to go back to fight tomorrow, and I realize tomorrow is your Sabbath. Most of the brothers don’t share your faith, but they deeply believe in your steadfastness. They witnessed your miraculous rescues on the ridge and want to share your luck. Without you, they refuse to go back up the cliff.”
The next day, before charging up the cliff, the unit delayed their attack because everyone was waiting for Doss to finish his Sabbath prayer. They and the superior joined Doss in praying to God, delaying the attack by 10 minutes. This might sound like a myth, but it was an actual event. Every American soldier prayed with Doss, delaying the attack! After the prayer, the unit bravely charged up the cliff, ultimately winning the Battle of Hacksaw Ridge.
A lasting legacy
Doss was eventually wounded and sent to the rear for treatment. He lost his Bible, but his comrades, knowing its significance to him, searched the battlefield and found it, mailing it back to him. This gesture showed his comrades’ deep respect for Doss and his faith.
A documentary featuring an interview with Doss and his superior revealed that he was the first soldier to refuse to carry a gun, yet receive the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor for bravery in combat.
Records indicate that Doss saved over a hundred soldiers at Hacksaw Ridge, but humbly reported a lower number. The unit eventually reported 75. After the war, a Japanese soldier who participated in the battle said he had seen Doss rescuing the wounded and had aimed to shoot him three times, but each time, the gun jammed inexplicably.
Hacksaw Ridge was not the only time Doss risked his life to save others. Throughout the campaign, he tirelessly rescued every wounded soldier he could, regardless of the severity of their injuries.
Medal of Honor citation
The citation for Doss’s Medal of Honor described more touching moments from various battles:
- May 4: Doss advanced through a rain of grenades to within eight yards (seven meters) of the enemy to bandage four wounded soldiers, then evacuated them to safety in four trips under fire.
- May 5: He crawled within 25 feet (7.5 meters) of the enemy to aid a severely wounded soldier and carried him 100 yards (90 meters) to safety under enemy fire.
- May 21: He exposed himself to fire to aid the wounded until a grenade severely injured him. He did not call for another medic, but bandaged his wounds. After waiting five hours for a stretcher, he saw a more critically injured soldier and directed the stretcher bearers to take him first. While waiting for the stretcher to return, Doss was hit again, shattering his left arm and embedding 17 pieces of shrapnel in his body. He used a rifle stock as a splint and crawled 300 yards (270 meters) to the aid station.
Doss was evacuated on the USS Mercy and, upon returning to the U.S., was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Truman. The citation concluded: “In extreme peril, Private First Class Doss’s extraordinary courage and unwavering determination saved many lives. His heroism far exceeded his duty, making his name a symbol for the 77th Infantry Division.”
Doss himself said that the true heroes had died on the battlefield. Returning home, he remained humble, attributing his achievements to God. “I prayed continuously, asking the Lord to help me save one more. No one should trample on another’s beliefs, whether it be the military or anyone else.”
Doss passed away in 2006 at the age of 87.
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