The Story of Corporal Desmond Doss — The Hero Without a Gun

Date of Incident: May 5, 1945
Location: Okinawa, Japan (Hacksaw Ridge)
Conflict: World War II
Unit: 77th Infantry Division, U.S. Army

Who was Desmond Doss?

Desmond Doss was a combat medic and a conscientious objector. Because of his religious beliefs, he refused to carry a weapon — but still volunteered to serve in World War II. Many soldiers mocked him, calling him a coward, but Doss believed his mission was to save lives, not take them.

The Sacrifice:

During the Battle of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific, U.S. forces were ordered to scale a massive cliff called Hacksaw Ridge. The fighting was brutal. When the Japanese counterattacked, many American soldiers were forced to retreat — leaving behind the wounded.

Desmond Doss stayed behind — alone.

Under constant enemy fire, Doss ran into danger again and again, pulling injured men off the battlefield and lowering them down the cliff to safety using a rope and pulley system he rigged by hand.

He did this for 12 hours straight.

By the end of the night, Doss had saved at least 75 men — possibly more.

He was wounded several times himself, including by a grenade and a sniper’s bullet. Still, he refused evacuation until others were treated first.