Posted on 03/30/2006 2:04:17 PM PST by CrazyJoeDivola
Desmond T. Doss, Sr., the only conscientious objector to win the Congressional Medal of Honor during World War II, has died. He was 87 years old.
Doss never liked being called a conscientious objector. He preferred the term conscientious cooperator. Raised a Seventh-day Adventist, Doss did not believe in using a gun or killing because of the sixth commandment which states, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Doss was a patriot however, and believed in serving his country.
During World War II, instead of accepting a deferment, Doss voluntarily joined the Army as a conscientious objector. Assigned to the 307th Infantry Division as a company medic he was harassed and ridiculed for his beliefs, yet he served with distinction and ultimately received the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 12, 1945 for his fearless acts of bravery.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, time after time, Doss’ fellow soldiers witnessed how unafraid he was for his own safety. He was always willing to go after a wounded fellow, no matter how great the danger. On one occasion in Okinawa, he refused to take cover from enemy fire as he rescued approximately 75 wounded soldiers, carrying them one-by-one and lowering them over the edge of the 400-foot Maeda Escarpment. He did not stop until he had brought everyone to safety nearly 12 hours later.
When Doss received the Medal of Honor from President Truman, the President told him, “I’m proud of you, you really deserve this. I consider this a greater honor than being President.”
Doss’ exemplary devotion to God and his country has received nationwide attention. On July 4, 2004, a statue of Doss was placed in the National Museum of Patriotism in Atlanta, Ga., along with statues of Dr. Martin Luther King, President Jimmy Carter, and retired Marine Corps General Gray Davis, also a Medal of Honor recipient. Also in 2004, a feature-length documentary called “The Conscientious Objector,” telling Doss’ story of faith, heroism, and bravery was released. A feature movie describing Doss’ story is also being planned.
Doss passed away Thursday morning, March 23, 2006, in Piedmont, Alabama. He is survived by his wife Frances, his son, Desmond T. Doss, Jr., and his brother, Harold Doss.
Funeral arrangements for Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss have been finalized.
Visitation will held from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, March 31, at Heritage Funeral Home, located at 3239 Battlefield Parkway, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
Doss’ memorial service will be held Saturday, April 1, 2006, at 3:00 p.m. at the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church located at 4829 College Drive East in Collegedale, Tenn.
Burial will take place on Monday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In lieu of flowers, the Doss family requests that donations be sent to the Desmond Doss Museum Fund at the Georgia-Cumberland Conference office (P.O. Box 12000 Calhoun, GA 30703).
Posted here several days ago.
Bump.
Rest in Peace, Hero.
Is this like being in the "National Museum of Marital Fidelity along with Bill Clinton"?
When you all are in Indianpolis for the Final Four, you might pop over and check out the Medal of Honor Memorial:
http://www.iplpower.com/ABOUTIPALCO/Community/Memorial_2.html
IMHO, it is very well done.
Our debt to these men is beyond description.
Which of these (inept, lying, treasonous, freedom-hating) things is not like the others?
One of these things is not like the other,
One of these things just doesn't belong.
Wow, same thought, three seconds apart! Are you twins? :-)
Well, at least I beat somebody.
"Doss never liked being called a conscientious objector. He preferred the term conscientious cooperator"
I'm okay with that in his case.
We went to different schools together.
Why can't more pacifists be like Doss instead of like those hippies in Vietnam who pelted returning troops with garbage?
I had the distinct honor of meeting and talking with Mr. Doss at some length about 2 years ago. He lived in Rising Fawn, GA and was in failing, but stable health.
Although suffering a distinct hearing loss, and equipped with a Cochlear(?) hearing implant he was easy to hear and could converse freely when looking directly at you.
I was building a home on Lookout Mountain about 3 or 4 miles from his homesite. At the time I saw his address on the internet and noticed his wife was selling a book about his MOH story.
This guy was the real deal; very humble, very warm, very personable and just a delight to meet. Not once did he mention the Medal of Honor or how he had earned it. He lived about 3/4 miles off the main highway and seem delighted someone would bother to look him up.
I treasure the meeting and conversation and also the book I purchased, signed by both himself and his wife.
Go with God Mr. Doss, you are a real hero. R I P
If the statues could self animate the other three would be relocating Carter over by the Crapper.
A true American hero!
Thank you for posting this.
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