N
The Global Insight

What makes Desmond Doss a hero

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on April 20, 2026

Doss enlisted into the United States Army as a combat medic during World War II. … Desmond Doss was selfless and forgiving, therefore he is a hero. Doss’s Selflessness is his greatest strength that helped many people’s lives. Doss was selfless because he put others in front of himself, even in dangerous times.

How did Desmond Doss inspire people?

Desmond Doss is an inspiration because he never gave up on himself and had God in his heart the whole time. He risked his own life to help save other wounded soldiers from the battlefield, without a using or carrying a single weapon to defend himself.

How did Desmond Doss show courage?

Even though Doss was harassed and thought of as a poltroon, he still, without hesitation displayed a great amount of bravery by saving his tormentors lives. “Doss’ superiors tried to make him compromise on his convictions by making it hard for him to go to church or trying to force him to hold a gun.

How did Desmond Doss change the world?

Doss is credited with saving at least 75 soldiers that night, but his son estimates it was well over 100. In addition, Doss was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded to service members. The 2016 film “Hacksaw Ridge” was about Doss’ early life and his actions that night in Okinawa.

How was Desmond Doss selfless?

Doss was undoubtedly a selfless person. Continuously, he would dive into battle, unarmed, and near the enemy to save the fallen. His determination was what would push him, even as he’d tremble with fear, to go back into the field. To go back and get one more.

Was Hacksaw Ridge real?

REEL FACE:REAL FACE:Sam Worthington Born: August 2, 1976 Birthplace: Godalming, Surrey, England, UKJack Glover

Did Desmond Doss really kick a grenade?

Doss suffered a left arm fracture from a sniper’s bullet while being carried back to Allied lines and at one point had seventeen pieces of shrapnel embedded in his body after a failed attempt at kicking a grenade away from him and his men. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Okinawa.

Did Desmond Doss ever use a gun?

In fact, he refused to carry a gun. His only weapons were his Bible and his faith in God. President Harry S. Truman warmly shook the hand of Corporal Desmond Thomas Doss, and then held it the entire time his citation was read aloud to those gathered outside the White House on October 12, 1945.

Did Desmond Doss really save a Japanese soldier?

On May 4, 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa, Doss helped rescue at least 75 wounded men, including some Japanese soldiers, by lowering them down a cliff and treating their injuries. Doss was presented the Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman on October 12, 1945.

Who won Hacksaw Ridge?

The Americans finally took Hacksaw Ridge on May 6. All Americans who fought in the Battle of Okinawa were heroic, but one soldier at the escarpment stood out—Corporal Desmond T. Doss. He was an army medic and Seventh-Day Adventist who refused to raise a gun to the enemy.

Article first time published on

Who is a famous conscientious objector?

Doss of Lynchburg, Virginia, is presented the Medal of Honor for outstanding bravery as a combat medic, the first conscientious objector in American history to receive the nation’s highest military award.

Did Harold Doss survive the war?

Doss was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Lindsey. He is survived by his wife, Hilda Doss; one daughter, Jeannie Foss of Frederick; grandchildren, Jodi, Jill and Brittany Foss, Jeff Jackson and Lisa Jackson Haberthur; great-grandchildren, Braden and Kaylie Harberthur.

Who gave Desmond Doss the Medal of Honor?

On October 12, 1945, President Harry S. Truman presented Doss with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony on the White House lawn.

What happened to Sergeant Howell in Hacksaw Ridge?

Howell died at the Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood, Perth, on 23 December 1964.

How old was Desmond Doss when he joined the army?

In late April 1945, 26-year-old Doss and his battalion were called upon to help fight near Urasoe Mura, Okinawa, in a campaign that would be one of the last and biggest in the Pacific.

Is Hacksaw Ridge a book?

Hacksaw Ridge: The True Story of Desmond Doss is the story of a young man who was a conscious objector who became a medic in World War II and won the Medal of Honor for his heroism. This book provides an overview of Desmond Doss life history. The book is okay as a brief introduction to this brave soldier.

Was Hacksaw Ridge in ww2?

The Battle of Okinawa was the last battle of World War II. One of the most historic events during the Battle of Okinawa took place at Maeda Escarpment, Okinawa, Japan, or Hacksaw Ridge. The battle on Hacksaw Ridge took place on a 400-foot cliff and lasted 11 days.

What was the worst battle of ww2?

CampaignConflictEstimated number killedBattle of NormandyWorld War II29,204 killedMeuse–Argonne offensiveWorld War I26,277 killedBattle of the BulgeWorld War II19,276 killedCentral Europe CampaignWorld War II15,009 killed

What is a conscientious objector ww1?

In the First World War, those who refused to fight in the conflict – known as conscientious objectors (COs) – were often treated harshly and vilified. These attitudes softened, however, over the course of the 20th century.

Can you refuse to go to war?

A conscientious objector (often shortened to conchie) is an “individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service” on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion.

What rank is a medic in the Army?

1 – these are medics at the entry level and may be of ranks Private through Corporal (E-1 to E-4). 2 – this is a medic who has the rank of a Sergeant (E-5). 3 – this is a medic who has a rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6). 4 – this is a medic who has a rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7).

Is the Bronze Star a Medal of Honor?

The Bronze Star, also known as the Bronze Star Medal or BSM for short, is a military medal awarded for heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.

What is Doss prayer on Hacksaw Ridge?

After lowering a soldier to safety, Doss prays, “Lord, give me one more!” Each time he lowers another soldier to safety the prayer is repeated: “Lord, give me one more!”