Desmond Doss

Desmond Dosshttps://disgustingmen.com/history/hacksaw-ridge-desmond-doss-real-story [CC0]The Medal Of Honor is the most prestigious military decoration that may be awarded. One who is awarded with such medal must have demonstrated self-sacrifice in the service of our country. The Medal Of Honor represents going above and beyond the call of duty. Often Medal Of Honor recipients have given their lives to save others. Usually such acts are done fighting the enemy. However Desmond Doss was no ordinary soldier, earning the Medal Of Honor without ever touching a weapon. On May 5,1945, Desmond Doss rescued 75 wounded soldiers on the island of Okinawa, unarmed and alone. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal Of Honor. Doss was a very religious man and due to his beliefs, he refused to kill or to even touch a gun. Regardless, Doss enlisted into the Army during WW2 because he wanted to serve his country. Refusing to use a weapon caused conflict, leading to him being tried at a court-martial. He was found not guilty after arguing he could serve his country as a medic without a weapon. Doss’s fellow soldiers initially looked down on on him and mistreated him because they though he was a coward. Little did they know that Desmond Doss would end up a hero on Okinawa at great risk to himself. A hero must possess courage and the willpower to go outside their comfort zone in order to accomplish something extraordinary. Desmond Doss demonstrated both of these traits. Doss is a hero and inspiration to the world for his bravery, passion, and determination to save others.

Doss being awarded the Medal Of HonorUS Federal Government [Public domain]Desmond Doss was fearless. According to Evie VandeVere, Doss rescued a wounded soldier 200 yards forward of the lines. While his company assaulted a strongly defended cave, "he advanced through a shower of grenades to within eight yards of the cave's mouth" (Desmond T. Doss. ). To advance through attacks without a weapon and save fellow soldiers demonstrates true, uncommon bravery. Doss looked death in the eye and decided saving other soldiers was more important than protecting his own life. Many of us wish we had the bravery that Doss possessed. “On May 5, 1945, a Saturday, the unarmed Doss rescued 75 wounded soldiers on the island of Okinawa" (The Christian Century, "Desmond T. Doss Sr."). Doss risked his life in order to save others. He placed other's lives before his own. It didn't matter who needed help or where they needed it. If Desmond Doss found you, he was going to save you. Doss was all alone, with no weapon, and no backup. He was roaming right in front of enemy lines but it didn't stop him. He continued to search throughout the night, for he was determined to save lives. The bravery and fearlessness Doss demonstrated is truly admiring and inspiring. There will likely never be another Desmond Doss, but his story and bravery will serve as an inspiration for generations to come.

Desmond Doss MemorialR london [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]The second reason Desmond Doss is my hero is because he stood up for what he believed in. Doss served his country but “with his Adventist beliefs he refused to work on Saturday, his denomination's Sabbath, or carry a gun" ("Desmond T. Doss Sr."). Doss was a very religious man and did not abandon who he was or his beliefs even when threatened with punishment. It is also why he couldn't follow many of the Army regulations in fighting the war. For his refusal to use a weapon to kill, he was court-martialled for being a coward. However, he defied the odds and won the case, finding a way to serve his country. Many of his comrades disliked Doss because they didn't trust him and thought he would be useless on the battlefield. Boy were they wrong. “Doss became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor" ("Desmond T. Doss, 87, Heroic War Objector."), saving many of his fellow soldiers that had treated him so poorly in the past.  Doss's actions taught me that standing up for one’s beliefs and being willing to sacrifice self for others is the true measure of a hero.

Desmond Doss is also an inspiration to me and he can be to others as well. He was extremely brave and courageous, and even though most of us will never be asked to do anything Doss did, we can apply his same characteristics and traits to our everyday lives. Many of us may not hold strong religious beliefs like Doss, but the example he set of self-sacrifice for the betterment of others and staying true to yourself is a lesson we can all apply to our lives. It is for these reasons that Desmond Doss is my hero, and will forever be an inspiration to me.

Works Cited: 

"Desmond T. Doss Sr." The Christian Century, 18 Apr. 2006, p. 19. Student Resources In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A145065469/SUIC?u=powa9245&sid=SUIC&xid=20e88c73. Accessed 3 May 2019.

VandeVere, Evie. "Desmond T. Doss." Boy's Quest, Oct.-Nov. 2010, p. 46+. Student Resources In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A239117360/SUIC?u=powa9245&sid=SUIC&xid=a151bd4d. Accessed 3 May 2019.

Goldstein, Richard. "Desmond T. Doss, 87, Heroic War Objector." New York Times, 25 Mar. 2006, p. A13(L). Student Resources In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A143672616/SUIC?u=powa9245&sid=SUIC&xid=a4f952b5. Accessed 3 May 2019.