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| Pacifist patriot Medal of Honor winner dies |
| 2006-03-24 |
| EFL. Desmond T. Doss — the only person to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for non-combat achievements in World War II and the first conscientious objector to receive the medal — died Thursday. He was 87. Doss, a longtime resident of Walker County, was born Feb. 7, 1919, in Lynchburg, Va. Doss was serving as a medic in the Army’s 77th Infantry Division on May 5, 1945, when he helped 75 wounded soldiers escape capture on the island of Okinawa under Japanese attack. As a Seventh-day Adventist, Doss’ religious convictions required strict adherence to God’s law, particularly the Sixth Commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” But despite his objection to killing and war, Doss was a patriotic American who wanted to serve his country. In April 1942, the slight, 5-foot-6-inch, 23-year-old enlisted and was given the Army’s 1-A-O conscientious objector status. He refused to carry a weapon and to perform duties on Saturday, when the Adventists celebrate the Sabbath. For his bravery Doss received the military’s highest award from President Harry Truman on Oct. 12, 1945. The Army had estimated the number of men Doss saved on that day in May at 100, though the humble Doss stated that it couldn’t have been more than 50. The Army decided to split the difference and put 75 on his citation. Jackson said that Doss was active with the JROTC program at LaFayette High School and spoke to the cadets on many occasions. Doss was a Seventh-day Adventist member from childhood and Dr. Ed Wright, president of the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of the denomination, described him as a “real inspiration to our church and specifically several generations of young people. He was a very humble man, deeply convicted as to not bearing arms.” A statement released by church officials said, “Doss never liked being called a conscientious objector. He preferred the term conscientious cooperator.” RIP, Mr. Doss. You'll have at least 75 references at the pearly gates. Most modern "conscientious objectors" are simply cowards or not loyal to the US and the Constitution. |
| Posted by:Jackal |
| #2 From the US Military Medal of Honor site, about Mr. Doss: He was a company aid man when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet high As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar and machinegun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying them 1 by 1 to the edge of the escarpment and there lowering them on a rope-supported litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands. On 2 May, he exposed himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire in rescuing a wounded man 200 yards forward of the lines on the same escarpment; and 2 days later he treated 4 men who had been cut down while assaulting a strongly defended cave, advancing through a shower of grenades to within 8 yards of enemy forces in a cave's mouth, where he dressed his comrades' wounds before making 4 separate trips under fire to evacuate them to safety. On 5 May, he unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms fire to assist an artillery officer. He applied bandages, moved his patient to a spot that offered protection from small arms fire and, while artillery and mortar shells fell close by, painstakingly administered plasma. Later that day, when an American was severely wounded by fire from a cave, Pfc. Doss crawled to him where he had fallen 25 feet from the enemy position, rendered aid, and carried him 100 yards to safety while continually exposed to enemy fire. On 21 May, in a night attack on high ground near Shuri, he remained in exposed territory while the rest of his company took cover, fearlessly risking the chance that he would be mistaken for an infiltrating Japanese and giving aid to the injured until he was himself seriously wounded in the legs by the explosion of a grenade. Rather than call another aid man from cover, he cared for his own injuries and waited 5 hours before litter bearers reached him and started carrying him to cover. The trio was caught in an enemy tank attack and Pfc. Doss, seeing a more critically wounded man nearby, crawled off the litter; and directed the bearers to give their first attention to the other man. Awaiting the litter bearers' return, he was again struck, this time suffering a compound fracture of 1 arm. With magnificent fortitude he bound a rifle stock to his shattered arm as a splint and then crawled 300 yards over rough terrain to the aid station. An amazing, brave, and honorable man. RIP Sir! |
| Posted by: DMFD 2006-03-24 22:13 |
| #1 An example the "Christians" for "peace" would do well to follow. If they weren't on the other side. Rest in peace, Mr. Doss. You were a great and good man, and this non-pacifist honors my fellow Virginian for a truly honorable life. Don't worry - where you are now, you'll never have to cross the paths of those clowns nowadays who besmirch the name of true and honest pacifism and patriotism, even after they die. But they'll be a whole lot warmer than you. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-03-24 21:34 |