Desmond Doss

Desmond Doss was a Seventh-day Adventist from Lynchburg, Virginia. When drafted, he refused to carry a weapon or train on Saturday, the Sabbath. His fellow soldiers called him a coward and threw boots and hymnals at him. He was nearly court-martialed.\n\nOn the Maeda Escarpment on Okinawa — nicknamed "Hacksaw Ridge" for its 350-foot cliff — the 1st Battalion was cut to pieces on May 5, 1945. Doss stayed on the cliff edge for 12 hours under mortar, rifle, and grenade fire. Each time he found a wounded man, he tied a rope to the soldier, lowered him down the cliff face, then climbed back up through enemy fire to find the next.\n\nHis mantra: "Lord, help me get one more." He estimated he saved 75 men. His company estimated 100. He was wounded twice — once by a grenade that shredded his left arm (he splinted it with a rifle stock) and once by a sniper who shattered his arm with a bullet. He treated both injuries himself while continuing to rescue men.\n\nHe became the first conscientious objector in U.S. history to receive the Medal of Honor. President Harry S. Truman presented it on October 12, 1945, saying: "I'm proud of you. You really deserve this. I consider this a greater honor than being president." Doss died on March 23, 2006.