Very Rare
Desmond Doss
The Story
Desmond Thomas Doss was a devout Seventh-day Adventist who refused to carry a weapon due to his religious beliefs. Drafted in 1942, he became a conscientious objector serving as a medic—the first to win the Medal of Honor without firing a single shot.
Doss's defining moment came during the Battle of Okinawa, specifically at Hacksaw Ridge—a sheer 400-foot escarpment that American forces needed to capture. On May 5, 1945, after his battalion had retreated, Doss remained behind under heavy enemy fire to tend to the wounded.
Alone on the ridge, Doss lowered approximately 75 wounded men one by one down the cliff face using a special knot he had devised. He refused to take cover or seek safety until every man was evacuated. Japanese soldiers later testified that they had him in their sights multiple times but their guns repeatedly jammed when they tried to fire.
Doss was wounded four times during the battle and eventually evacuated on a stretcher. He gave up his stretcher to another wounded soldier and crawled 300 yards under fire to the aid station.
His Medal of Honor citation reads: 'Through his inspiring heroism, he saved the lives of many soldiers.' The Army initially tried to court-martial him for refusing to carry a rifle; they ended up honoring him with the nation's highest military decoration.
Doss's defining moment came during the Battle of Okinawa, specifically at Hacksaw Ridge—a sheer 400-foot escarpment that American forces needed to capture. On May 5, 1945, after his battalion had retreated, Doss remained behind under heavy enemy fire to tend to the wounded.
Alone on the ridge, Doss lowered approximately 75 wounded men one by one down the cliff face using a special knot he had devised. He refused to take cover or seek safety until every man was evacuated. Japanese soldiers later testified that they had him in their sights multiple times but their guns repeatedly jammed when they tried to fire.
Doss was wounded four times during the battle and eventually evacuated on a stretcher. He gave up his stretcher to another wounded soldier and crawled 300 yards under fire to the aid station.
His Medal of Honor citation reads: 'Through his inspiring heroism, he saved the lives of many soldiers.' The Army initially tried to court-martial him for refusing to carry a rifle; they ended up honoring him with the nation's highest military decoration.
Why You Haven't Heard This Story
Doss's story was suppressed during the war due to controversy around conscientious objectors. His Medal of Honor ceremony was the only one held at the White House during WWII, yet his story remained obscure until the 2016 film 'Hacksaw Ridge'.