Desmond Doss

Portrait of Desmond Doss (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Doss ())

Imagine, May of 1942 in Okinawa on the battlefield during World War 2, fighting against the Japanese. Covered in dirt, and other men's blood, hiding under dead man flesh from Japanese, no weapon to protect yourself, making an effort to rescue wounded soldiers, using a rope to carry each one to safety 35 feet below. Desmond Doss, an unarmed Army medic war hero portrayed these tasks on the battlefield alone. Desmond Doss saved 72 wounded soldiers lives without carrying a single weapon. He always believed in the Sixth Commandment, "You shall not kill", and was struck by it in his young childhood.  When the Japanese counterattacked, the American Army fled off the ridge but Doss remained due to hearing someone calling for help. He carried each soldier one by one using just rope with a double bowline knot tied to a stump serving as a anchor down to safety 35 feet below. Although many others put hate towards Desmond, he did not give up on himself. Doss just believed in God, and carried himself beyond his limits to help save the wounded soldiers left behind. Desmond Doss's determination of keeping to his word by his religion no matter what others said or did to him and with his own choice of self-sacrifice of no weapon for self defense, while on the battlefield rescuing the wounded pushing himself past his own limits, deserves him the title of a hero.

Doss(male with Red Cross Badge) giving an IV (https://dirkdeklein.net/ ())

Private Doss's religion never held him back for what he wanted to pursue, he stuck to his word by the Bible regardless of any type hatred he received from other soldiers. While in training for the war, Private Doss had: "faced harassment from fellow soldiers for his devotion to prayer and his refusal to handle weapons or work on the Sabbath" (Goldstein). From an incident with his father, Doss was  determined that he would never again hold another gun. He always stands by the commandment "You shall not Kill." He held strong to the word of the Lord. As a young boy, Doss stared at the "Ten Commandments on a house wall is deemed all that a viewer needs to grasp the nature of Doss' pacifist convictions" (Honeycutt). From young childhood memory, he would not hurt others due to the incident of hitting his older brother in the face with a brick, almost killing him. He was so in shock he stared at the commandments, leading him to promise himself that he would never hurt or kill anybody again in his life. Desmond Doss's determination to his beliefs were so strong that nothing could've stopped him, but with his hard work he pushed himself that everybody thought wrong.

Doss at the top of Hacksaw Ridge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Doss ())

Instead of fleeing back to base with the Army, Doss made a decision to sacrifice his own life by staying back to save the wounded without any type of self defense to protect himself from the Japanese. Doss faced difficult tasks alone, risking the chances of getting himself caught by the Japanese: "Private Doss remained with the wounded, and, according to his Medal of Honor citation, he refused to seek cover, carrying [his fellow soldiers], one by one, in the face of enemy fire" (Goldstein). Private Doss had faith in those that were wounded. Desmond always mentioned 'trust me, you will make it' explaining that everything would be alright. Once everybody fled down the ridge when Japanese counterattacked, Private Doss stayed behind saying it was his duty by God. Doss never gave up, and kept asking God to help one more when he was getting tired.  He risked not using any weapon for self-defense, and increased the chances of getting caught by the Japanese while saving the wounded. Doss kicked a grenade that was thrown from the Japanese, which "By the time he left military service, Doss had lost his hearing, sustained a shattered arm and had 17 pieces of shrapnel in his body" (Honeycutt). After Doss left the military, he returned home with injuries that put him in the hospital for 14 years with his wife right by his side encouraging to fight. All these injuries, showed that he put himself aside and the wounded before him to save each individual. Desmond Doss face multiple risks while staying hard at work, which gained him well respected for what he did alone.

Doss receiving the Medal of Honor (http://people.com ())

Desmond Doss was determined to stand up for himself and his own beliefs through training and made a decision that made him self- sacrifice his own life to save his fellow soldiers. Through his actions on the battlefield and in his beliefs, Doss inspires people around the world to never give up on what you believe in or what you want to pursue. While on the battlefield, Doss made it clear that whatever situation you are in, God will always stand right by your side pushing you past your own limits to reach the finish line. To do anything that would help or save another is better than doing it for yourself.

[Desmond Doss] refused to seek cover, carrying them, one by one, in the face of enemy fire. 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 unscathed.(Goldstein)

Desmond Doss is an inspiration because he never gave up on himself and had God in his heart the whole time. He risked his own life to help save other wounded soldiers from the battlefield, without a using or carrying a single weapon to defend himself. He did not lose his faith no matter what others said based on their own  judgement. Desmond inspired many ways that I can help others by just doing the simplest things in life. He taught to just stand tall through tough situations and just believe in yourself and have faith in God. And before you know it, you got through the moments that hurt you the most, but having God right by your side. By obtaining the title of an Hero, Doss wasn't afraid to speak of his own beliefs, while making a choice of sacrificing his own life for those who have been saving the people of America's lives.

Works Cited

Goldstein, Richard. "Desmond T. Doss, 87, Heroic War Objector." New York Times, 25 Mar.

2006, p. A13(L). Student Resources in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A143672616/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=a4f952b5. Accessed 27 Apr. 2017

Honeycutt, Kirk. "The Conscientious Objector." Hollywood Reporter, 25 Aug. 2004, p. 12.