Conscientious Cooperator: Desmond Doss

Most people would refer to Desmond Doss as a conscientious objector, but he would prefer the term “conscientious cooperator.” Doss was a man of devout faith who refused to touch a weapon. However, when WWII arrived and his country called, Doss answered. While most conscientious objectors sought exemption or non-combat roles, Doss refused to shy away. In 1942 when his draft notice came, Doss didn’t hide behind his conscientious objector status to avoid the frontlines. He planned to serve his country in the highest capacity his faith would allow: a combat medic role.

In 1919, Doss was born in Lynchburg Virginia. He was raised as a Seventh-day Adventist, a faith he would never depart from. Growing up, Doss had a complicated childhood. His mother leaned heavily on faith and his WWI veteran father leaned heavily on alcohol. One night when his father and uncle were heavily drinking an argument broke out between them. His father then pulled a gun on his uncle, Doss’s mother quickly stood in front of the gun. She ripped it out of his hand and gave it to Doss to go and hide. After that night Doss swore that would be the last gun he ever held.

Once WWII broke out, Doss received his draft notice and insisted on being a medic, but the Army sent him to a rifle company instead. Doss had a difficult time in basic training. He was bullied by many of those in his unit for his devout beliefs. The others isolated him, and several attempts were made to have him removed. Officers attempted to have him admit to mental illness to have him discharged. Another officer would try to have him court-martialed on the grounds of refusing to hold a weapon. Despite the friction between him and others in his unit, Doss completed all aspects of basic training, except for weapons training. Doss would earn the role that he set out for and become one of the Army’s 307th Infantry medics.

Nearly all the men in Doss’s unit despised him, but he eventually earned their trust and respect once the fighting began. In 1944, Doss and the 307th Infantry were sent to Guam. The Battle of Guam was where Doss first proved himself under the intensity of war. He continuously left cover to go and treat wounded men under enemy fire. His heroism not only earned him the respect of his men, but also won him his first Bronze Star. He then deployed to Leyte where his dedication to his fellow Americans once again won him another Bronze Star. 

After Leyte, the 307th would ship out to take part in the Okinawa campaign. Their objective at Okinawa, take the dreaded Hacksaw Ridge: a three-story high cliff atop a 400-foot escarpment. The Japanese had spent years building defenses behind Hacksaw Ridge and were dug in well. The American soldiers would have to ascend the 35-foot high cliff with cargo nets and take the territory just beyond. Here Doss would make history. 

The 307th was able to hold onto the territory for days, fighting a difficult and deeply entrenched enemy. Doss would do what he did best here: continue to aid his wounded comrades under heavy fire. The Japanese resistance became so intense that the men who were still atop Hacksaw Ridge were ordered to retreat. Doss would do no such thing. After all the Americans retreated down the 35-foot cliff, Doss would go on to rescue 75 men who were too wounded to make it down the cliff themselves. He lowered each man down one by one with a rope, continuously going back into enemy territory with no backup to save the stranded helpless Americans.

About three weeks after he saved those 75 lives, Doss was back to work when he was hit with multiple grenades and a sniper bullet. Instead of seeking treatment, he continued to make sure all of his wounded teammates got treated first. Doss, heavily injured at this point, crawled 300 yards over rough terrain back to the aid station. These wounds led to Doss being put out of the fight and sent home. 

Three months later, Doss was presented with the Medal of Honor at the White House. He was the first and only conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II. Doss became a symbol of the power of conviction and showed what it means to stick to your principles and do what is necessary no matter the cost.