The definition of a hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Desmond Doss is a man who I think fits the description of a hero because of his brave service during World War Two. Doss was born on February 7th in Lynchburg, Virginia. He lived there with his mother, father, and younger brother, who was the one that inspired him to join active duty. Doss began work in 1941 at the naval shipyards as a ship joiner. A year later he married Dorothy Schutte, his true love, on August 17, 1942. It was this marriage that held him together during the war until her death in 1991. Before her accidental death, she spent years taking care of Doss after he returned from battle. Tuberculosis had taken one of his lungs and five of his ribs which left him ninety percent disabled. It was because of Dorothy that he survived long enough to meet their son Desmond Tommy Jr., who grew up knowing his dad is a hero. A hero must possess bravery and selflessness. Bravery is defined by the courageous behavior in someone while selflessness is forgetting their own needs to take care of others first. Desmond T Doss is a Recognizable hero due to his multiple acts of bravery, selflessness, and inspiration throughout WW2.
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Doss's willingness to strive through the night to revive the wounded is what makes him brave. While all of the men retreated, Doss stayed by the sides of those who were left to die on the field in an attempt to save them: "He lowered each man on a rope-supported litter he had devised, using double bowline knots he had learned as a youngster and tying the makeshift litter to a tree stump serving as an anchor. Every wounded man was lowered to a safe spot 35 feet below the ridgetop, and then Private Doss came down the ridge." (Goldstein). This proves that he is brave because he not only fought for the life of others, he also stayed on enemy grounds in open fire to help as many people as he could. Anyone can walk away from those who cry for help, but the brave ones are the ones who stay and risk it all to aid them. Doss stepped forward and protected his men even if it meant looking death right in the eye: "The grenade landed at his feet with a thud. While three other soldiers in Company B of the 307th Infantry scrambled for shelter in a foxhole, Army Company Aid Man, Private First Class Desmond Doss attempted to kick the deadly projectile away with his heavy combat boot. He had only one thought in his mind, and that was to protect his beloved men." (Telzrow). Bravery is showing the moral strength to face danger in the hopes to do what's right, which is exactly what Doss did. He took ignition and did what many of the men were too afraid to do, but he did it for them. To be brave is to have the admirable quality of being able to confront frightening events, which is the quality that Doss possessed which inspired the men around him.
Taking care of his men before his own health and safety are what made Doss selfless. While everyone else fled in fear, Doss stood in ongoing fire carrying his men away from the danger so they could be safe: "Private Doss remained with the wounded, and, according to his Medal of Honor citation, he refused to seek cover, carrying them, one by one, in the face of enemy fire." (Goldstein). Doss is considered selfless because he willingly put others before himself during deadly times. He could have easily walked away and saved himself but he risked it all and stayed to help the men in need. Doss worried about everyone else before himself, even when he desperately needed help: "The next day, litter bearers made their way to his position and loaded Doss on a stretcher bound for the safety of an aid station. On the way, they encountered a soldier with a serious head wound. Sensing the severity of the soldier's wounds, Doss rolled off the stretcher and insisted that the wounded man takes his place. Swapping places with the wounded soldier was typical of Doss." (Telzrow). Having the heart to worry about others needs before your own is an act of selflessness. Doss made sure that everyone was okay before worrying about his own needs. To be selfless is to think about others before yourself, which is exactly what Doss did through every impossible course thrown at him.
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| Desmond T Dosss is being awarded the silver star (metroactive.com ()) |
Desmond T. Doss became an inspiration to all the men he served with and much more, because of his admirable acts that were displayed during his service in World War II. Due to his outstanding achievements during his time of service that went unnoticed, in 1945 he was rewarded publicly: "Doss was the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. Promoted to corporal, he joined fourteen other men who received their medals at the White House on 12 October 1945." (Marc). Doss's promotion to corporal showed the impact he had on his men the people around him. He embedded an imprint in the hearts of many, leaving him to receive the Medal of Honor. Doss sacrificed his life for his country and his men multiple times: "He went overseas with the 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division, in the summer of 1944 and served as a combat medic on Guam and at Leyte in the Philippines, receiving the Bronze Star, before taking part in the battle for Okinawa in the spring of 1945." (Goldstein). This highlights how he is an inspiration because many men turned their heads during the time to serve their country but he strived to save lives on the field. He wanted to make a difference in battle and he ended his story living up to every promise he made. To be an inspiration is to set a role model example for the world, Doss's story reached out to millions of people today and taught them how to be brave and selfless even through the hardest time.
Due to his bravery, selflessness, and inspirational acts, Desmond T. Doss is an admirable hero who served our country in more ways than one. Even through every deadly obstacle, Doss strived to keep the positivity on the field by being an inspiring leader and saving his men. Without him, they would have lost dozens of wounded men that could have easily been saved. Doss played an important role in saving the lives of America's soldiers and even had the heart to try and help those on the opposing sides. Desmond T. Doss inspires me because he risked his life through deadly scenarios to aid the wounded or to carry out the slew. He inspires many other people because of his constant bravery to face his fears and step up as a leader for his people. Although at the time many thought he was crazy, Doss is now admired for his faith in God to protect him on the field while he promised to carry out every man left in battle. Goldstein, Richard. "Desmond T. Doss, 87, Heroic War Objector, Dies." The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Mar. 2006, www.nytimes.com/2006/03/25/us/desmond-t-doss-87-heroic-war-objector-dies.html. Accessed 4 May 2017. :Marc Leepson,"Desmond Thomas Doss (1919-2006)," Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia (1998- ), published 2015 (http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.asp?b=Doss_Desmond_Thomas, accessed [may 4, 2017). Telzrow, Michael E. "Desmond Doss: his only weapon was his conscience." The New American, 7 Nov. 2016, p. 34+. Biography in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A472002704/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=7dff52ca. Accessed 24 Apr. 2017. VandeVere, Evie. "Desmond T. Doss." Boy's Quest, Oct.-Nov. 2010, p. 46+. Student Resources in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A239117360/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=a151bd4d. Accessed 1 May 2017.Works Cited
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Last edited 5/20/2017 12:00:00 AM
