PFC Desmond Doss (B/1-307IN, 77th ID) Battle of Okinawa, 29APR-21MAY1945

29APR-21MAY1945: Serving as a medic with Bravo Company, part of 1-307 IN, PFC Desmond Doss had distinguished himself during the combat in Guam and Leyte before his men landed on Okinawa. Doss was unique in that as a conscientious objector he refused to carry a weapon into battle. Most medics would at least carry a sidearm to be used in strictly defensive means if necessary.

At the start of May, Doss and his unit were sent up to relieve a battalion that had suffered heavy casualties trying to take an area that became known as Hacksaw Ridge. Having to scale a cliff to reach the dug in Japanese defenders, Bravo company climbed ropes and ladders before reaching the peak. At that point they came under withering enemy fire, nearly decimating the entire unit. As what was left of the company began a retreat down the cliff, their many wounded were stranded, unable to fall back.

Rather than leave the wounded, Doss stayed behind and over the course of the next few hours, treated casualties, moved them to the edge of the cliff and lowered them down one by one. Doss is credited with saving at least 75 American Soldiers that day. As the fight raged for a few more days, Doss repeatedly placed himself in harms way in order to treat as may Soldiers as possible.

A few weeks later, on May 21st, Doss was ahead of friendly lines continuing to treat wounded that were a little cut off. While there, he was wounded by a Japanese grenade but rather than call a stretcher team forward, he treated the wounds himself and sat tight for five hours until it was safe for them to advance. While being moved back to the rear, Doss noticed another Soldier that was in worse shape than he was. He quickly rolled off the stretcher to make room for the casualty.

Shortly thereafter, Doss was struck by a snipers bullet that broke his arm. Creating a quick splint with a rifle stock, Doss then crawled more than 300 yards back to the aid station where he was treated and evacuated.

For his incredible actions throughout the Battle of Okinawa, now CPL Desmond Doss would be awarded the Medal of Honor, the only conscientious objector in the war to do so. Doss would live until the age of 87 when he would pass away in 2006.