Desmond Doss

Desmond Dosswww.pintrest.comWorld War II claimed the lives of over 500 million soldiers globally. People all around the world wanted to fight in the war and take lives, but one man wanted to join to save them. Desmond Doss was a normal man who joined the army with a vow to never weild a weapon. Doss made this vow when he was a kid, after nearly killing his father with a gun. He grew up in Virginia and became a believer in Christ as a child. He loved the forest and going on adventures with his brother. Sadly he had an abusive father who served in a war as well. Desmond joined the military with bravery and the willingness to make sacrifices for his men and his country. Even after being assaulted and beaten by his peers, he still would have given his life for each and every one of them. Desmond Doss was a conscientious objector that served during World War II while standing up for his religious beliefs of never wielding a weapon. He accomplished this by serving as a combat medic without a firearm and staying true to his values.

Soldiers on Hacksaw Ridge, Okinawawww.allthatisinteresting.comDesmond Doss was a brave religious soldier with a big heart and an excessively strong desire to follow his will and beliefs. As Desmond joined the military to go fight in the war, he was welcomed by his comrades to the war. But, as his crew began to learn of his unwavering stance on gun violence and murder, they grew to dislike him. Desmond Doss said: “I don't know how i’m going to live with myself if i don't stay true to what i believe in.” (Herndon). He said this while denying a commander's direct order to pick up a rifle and shoot it, otherwise he would be forced into military prison for disobedience. It was his actions of protest  that defined the strength of his faith. Although Desmond’s beliefs were doubted and insulted when he arrived, his peers began to trust in him after he save more than half of his unit on the Hacksaw Ridge. they would soon follow him and his ideals into battle. His commander told him: “Most of these men don't believe the same way you do, but they believe so much in how much you believe” (Herndon).  Doss’s commander learned that the men that he saved are thankful for him and believes what he's doing is right. This concedes that he has persuaded his mates and influenced them to believe in him. He differs from other soldiers because he got his entire military unit to believe in him as well as held very strong beliefs and managed to keep them despite the criticism and hatred after saving.

Desmond Doss on Hacksaw Ridgewww.matome.naver.jpDesmond Doss was a courageous, noble, and charitable young man when he joined the military. All he wanted was to serve his country to save the lives of the many around him as a combat medic with no weapon to defend himself. Desmond was hated, doubted, and beaten by his fellow soldiers as they did not understand why he was resistant towards picking up a gun. “They teased him mercilessly to “man up” and carry a rifle. They launched their boots at him while he prayed by his bunk at night. They hated him for getting a pass on the Sabbath because to work on the holy day was against his religion” (Kelly). Doss was following all orders given to him during training, except for acquiring a firearm. This upset the military and he ended up serving time in military jail, despite his efforts. It is revealed that Desmond did not give up and persevered with his beliefs regardless of what others want or require him to be. His wife, Dorothy Doss, even suggested to him that he just had to shoot the rifle during training and not kill anybody but he stuck with his beliefs the regardless. Doss was able to prove his crew wrong and ended up getting a chance to server under the protection of what the first amendment declares on religion. He also managed to change his surrounding soldiers view on him. He would give his life for random people as seen throughout various events in his life: “Doss preferred the term "conscientious cooperator" and specifically requested assignment to medical duty where he could help save, rather than have to take, human lives” (Leepson). Desmond Doss was labeled as a conscientious objector in his time at the military but Doss was willing to discuss the terms of his service with the higher powers. He was willing to serve his country in the war, but as a combat medic without a gun. Doss is told as a war mut who wanted to have special treatment, however he was open to cooperation. Most soldiers trying to achieve this goal would have given in to the requirements of the military but Doss served in jail and went to court to achieve his goal of fighting with no weapon. Desmond was willing to go far in order to help save and protect his fellow American soldiers.

Doss was a conscientious cooperator who was willing to serve as a combat medic without a firearm to save American and even Japanese soldiers at Hacksaw Ridge during World War II. He  was a perserverer who saved over 75 soldiers and never took the the life of one. He was willing to fight against the conditions of military service in order to do so. He is inspiring to stay true to your beliefs and values no matter the criticism you will receive and also to help others around you. Desmond Doss will be remembered for a long time due to his acts of bravery and selflessness in the War and willingness to follow his beliefs.

Doss as a war veteranwww.heraldcourier.comWorks Cited

Kelly, Erin. “The True Story Of WWII Medic Desmond Doss Was Too Heroic Even For 'Hacksaw Ridge'.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 8 Jan. 2018, allthatsinteresting.com/desmond-doss.

Herndon, Booton. Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge: the Gripping True Story That Inspired the Movie. Remnant Publications, 2016.

Marc Leepson,"Desmond Thomas Doss (1919–2006)," Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia (1998– ), published 2015 (https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.asp?b=Doss_Desmond_Thomas, accessed [today's date]).