War vs. The Conscientious Objector
Desmond Doss
Desmond Doss enlisted in April 1942, but refused to kill or carry a weapon into combat because of his personal beliefs as a Seventh-day Adventist. He consequently became a medic, and while serving in the Pacific theatre of World War II he helped his country by saving the lives of his comrades, at the same time adhering to his religious convictions.
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The power of faith laid against the truly atrocious state of war in 1945. I am completely honored to have met this man among men on the big-screen, " Hacksaw Ridge " (2016) Director: Mel Gibson. The power of his story spans the time.
War is hatred. Desmond Doss is love. He was treated with much religious bigotry and misunderstanding in his early army days. He was severely beaten by his platoon members, mistreated by his company commander and staff officers, eventually court-martialed in order to discharge him, but he persisted and won his case to stay in the Army Medical Corps—without passing weapons training. Through all these things, yet t he soul of the man song.
The words attributed to Jesus Christ continue today: " Matthew 24: 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom."
Personal note: I had never heard of Mr. Desmond Doss before viewing the movie, Hacksaw Ridge. When I began watching the movie I had no clue that I would meet such an impactful man. When the movie confirms his true life story: I am just blown-away.
Mel Gibson, worked his spellbinding feat this time. The explosions, the wounds, the flinches, the destruction is symbolically felt. But, Mr. Doss, I had my doubts about due to his sect which I know not enough about. Then, I saw the power in the man and it inspired me. Did you know Desmond Doss in any tangible way? In the clip here, you can see the honesty in the man. The excitement after all those bygone years still light up his spirit. He gave glory to God!
I have not viewed the movie, but am aware of many individuals who declined to be armed, but were willing to serve. They can be counted among the heroes who served this country. On memorial day me and my buddies make sure we place flags on the graves of those who may have been objectors (more power to them)...but did their duty to serve this country. We will continue to do so as long as we're around.
That is a swell thing to do. Respect.
Do see the movie. Mel Gibson did such a swell job. Mr. Gibson's movies are legend for their grit and intensity in battle scenes. This one takes a candle to no other great war movie. Still, the actor's handling of Mr. Doss' critical words, "Lord, just one more." I am impressed by. It is on cable and other outlets now.
Great credit to Mr. Doss. I wish the movie could have been made years earlier when we could have had some eye witnesses verify the authenticity of the combat scenes.
The most compelling thing about Doss is that he did not shrink from the danger, but actually ran into it, without a weapon to defend himself.
Compare to: Citation for PFC Desmond Doss >>> National Archives Catalog.
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Read Doss' Medal of Honor citation provided by the Desmond Doss Council , the group committed to preserving his story:
Private First Class Desmond T. Doss, United States Army, Medical Detachment, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. Near Urasoe-Mura, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 29 April - 21 May 1945. He was a company aid man when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet high. As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar and machinegun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Private First Class Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying them one by one to the edge of the escarpment and there lowering them on a rope-supported litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands. On 2 May, he exposed himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire in rescuing a wounded man 200 yards forward of the lines on the same escarpment; and two days later he treated four men who had been cut down while assaulting a strongly defended cave, advancing through a shower of grenades to within eight yards of enemy forces in a cave's mouth, where he dressed his comrades' wounds before making four separate trips under fire to evacuate them to safety. On 5 May, he unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small-arms fire to assist an artillery officer. He applied bandages, moved his patient to a spot that offered protection from small-arms fire and, while artillery and mortar shells fell close by, painstakingly administered plasma. Later that day, when an American was severely wounded by fire from a cave, Private First Class Doss crawled to him where he had fallen 25 feet from the enemy position, rendered aid, and carried him 100 yards to safety while continually exposed to enemy fire. On 21 May, in a night attack on high ground near Shuri, he remained in exposed territory while the rest of his company took cover, fearlessly risking the chance that he would be mistaken for an infiltrating Japanese and giving aid to the injured until he was himself seriously wounded in the legs by the explosion of a grenade. Rather than call another aid man from cover, he cared for his own injuries and waited five hours before litter bearers reached him and started carrying him to cover. The trio was caught in an enemy tank attack and Private First Class Doss, seeing a more critically wounded man nearby, crawled off the litter; and directed the bearers to give their first attention to the other man. Awaiting the litter bearers' return, he was again struck, this time suffering a compound fracture of one arm. With magnificent fortitude he bound a rifle stock to his shattered arm as a splint and then crawled 300 yards over rough terrain to the aid station. Through his outstanding bravery and unflinching determination in the face of desperately dangerous conditions Private First Class Doss saved the lives of many soldiers. His name became a symbol throughout the 77th Infantry Division for outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty.
In my junior years, I think that I would have considered him a coward for declining to bear arms in a time of war. But now in my senior years and having a better understanding of the Bible, I admire his resolve and his solution to serve without having to bear arms.
Good article, Calbab
Al-36! I am completely engulfed that you found this little gem of a blog-article. Just last week I was going through my things and noticed it and thought alone how much I would wish people to know about this man. What a strong man; what a conscientious objector.
Al-316! I am curious about the religious philosophy of movie director Mel Gibson as it relates to faith, war, and conscientious objectors. Mr. Gibson, the man, is a mystery to me. But, Hacksaw Ridge is undeniably a spirited tragedy and story of affirmation:
Interesting question, Calbab. I have no idea. I like Mel Gibson's work but I suspect that God is not very important in Hollywood.
I have family in California. Most of them, not all, are atheists. Several years ago, my wife and I attended a dinner party celebrating the graduation of my niece's husband's from medical school. As a gift, we presented him with a new reference Bible knowing that he was an atheist. There was polite silence around the table as I explained that although he might not feel the urge to use the Bible now, in his line of work there may come a time when he will find it helpful. As you might expect there was no applause or cheering when I finished.
Our thinking was that there might come a time when he will remember the gift and wonder what is in that Book, pick it up, and learn something, like I did.
That moment of awkward. I know it well! Nothing can feel as flat as that moment when you give what is truly in your heart to another and have it set aside in a *cricket* bowl! Perhaps, one day he may feel an unction to lift the spirit of someone under his care according to his or her convictions and not his own. Should that time come, in each instance, he will remember your gift and break it open. The pressure on him will be considerable to understand the strength and character of his longsuffering patients in due time.
Mr. Desmond Doss taught me a lesson about writing off people in other groups. There is aplenty about Seventh-Day Adventist (then and now) that I do not bother to understand. Though, I a "visit" with adventists often when I am work outdoors (on my radio). Frankly, I had never heard of a conscientious objector who actually saw combat, and without a weapon no less! Moreover, to be a man of extreme fortitude and extraordinary faith in the face of an enemy.