The Conscientious Objector

When Desmond Doss was a small boy, he saw a poster of the Old Testament Bible story of Cain and Abel – with Cain standing over the body of the brother that he killed.  From that moment on, young Desmond determined that he never, under any circumstances, take the life of another human being.

As he grew, he became devoutly committed to his faith – to the power of prayer – to the Bible as his source of strength.

In 1942, with America entering World War II, Desmond Doss was determined to serve his country.  Although declared a conscientious objector, he refused to take a deferment and joined the Army to serve as a medic.

But from the first day of training, the men in Doss’ unit new he was different.  Kneeling at his bunk in prayer – always reading the Bible – Desmond drew increasing taunts and harassment from his fellow soldiers.  Refusing to work on the Sabbath, accept to administer medical care, only made their resentment worse, despite his working overtime during the week to make up for it.

With the war at hand and with a new recruit that wouldn’t carry a gun, eat meat, or work on the Sabbath, Doss’ Commanding Officer tried unsuccessfully to declare him unstable and unsuitable for military service.

But Doss was dedicated to serving his country and, while refusing to take another life or to even carry a gun, he was fast becoming an outstanding soldier, passionately dedicated to providing medical aid to all in need.

Initially deployed to Guam, then to the vicious battles at Leyte, Doss stunned his fellow soldiers over and over with his remarkable courage under fire as he went to any length to treat, care for, and rescue his wounded comrades.  His fellow soldiers were astonished, as time after time Doss would selflessly charge into open areas alive with machine gun and sniper fire to rescue a wounded man.  For his repeated heroism, Corporal Doss was award the Bronze Star Medal.

Then came the historic battle for Okinawa in April 1945.  The Japanese were dug in all over the island and Doss’ 77th division had to scale a 400ft cliff, honeycombed with caves, tunnels, and enemy gun emplacements.  When the order came to attack, Doss told his Lieutenant the men should pray before the assault – that prayer was the best lifesaver of all.  And with Doss having proved his courage over and over, his men were more than receptive to doing just that.

They struggled up the sheer face of the escarpment only to be pinned down by withering enemy fire.  They were immediately forced to engage the enemy in a fierce battle and by days end, Doss’ Company was victorious -  without a single man killed and only one minor injury. It was in fact miraculous!

Even at Army Headquarters back in the States, everyone asked how Company B of the 77th had pulled it off.  Finally, with no other rational explanation the official US Army Report stated simply that “Doss Prayed”.

Many battles followed that April “morning miracle” in the battle for Okinawa and Doss continued relentlessly to charge into the action to rescue his wounded men.

On May 5th, however, the tide turned against the Americans.  Enemy soldiers swarmed out of their caves and charged in every direction.  Immediately 75 men were wounded and Company B had to fall back to the base of the escarpment.  The only soldiers to remain at the top of the cliff were the wounded, the Japanese, and Corporal Desmond Doss.

In the face of the rapidly advancing enemy, Doss tended to the wounded soldiers and miraculously – for 5 continuous hours – after affixing a rope to a tree – one by one, he lowered each and every wounded soldier from his Company down to safety.  The Army estimated that the conscientious objector, who had been tormented and harassed, and who had been nearly discharged as unfit, single handedly saved the lives of approximately 100 of his men. 

After that day the 77th fought on relentlessly for weeks and Corporal Doss, with a seemingly inexhaustible source of energy, continued to treat and rescue his wounded men.  Finally, after having covered a grenade with his boot, and taking a devastating sniper’s bullet intended for a wounded comrade, Desmond Doss, with 17 pieces of shrapnel in his broken body, was finally put on a hospital ship for the return home. 

As one writer said “He had fought a good fight – his own way – without ever compromising his strong beliefs.”

On October 12 1945, Corporal Desmond F. Doss was invited to the White House where around his neck, the President placed the Medal of Honor.