Mel Gibson back to Aussie roots to direct new movie

AFP via Yahoo News ^ | 7/30/15 | Staff

[Kartographer]

Mel Gibson is returning to his Australian roots to direct his first film in a decade, the true story of a conscientious objector who saved 75 men during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II.

[Kartographer]

The solider was PFC. Desmond Doss A US Army Medic. His CMOH citation reads as follows:

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. Through his outstanding bravery and unflinching determination in the face of desperately dangerous conditions Pfc. Doss saved the lives of many soldiers. His name became a symbol throughout the 77th Infantry Division for outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty.

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2717/doss-desmond-t.php

[Kartographer]

From:

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/index.cgi?id=528487830784

His biggest regret? The Bible his wife gave him had fallen out of his pocket when he was blown off his feet by the grenade, and he hadn’t recovered it before saving a bunch of lives and walking away from life-threatening injuries.

It worked out pretty well, though. When his commanding officer came by the hospital to visit Doss and inform him that he was going to receive the Medal of Honor, he brought a present – a waterlogged, semi-charred pocket Bible. Apparently after the hill had been captured from the Japanese, every man in the Company scoured the field until they’d found it for him.

[xp38]

Mel Gibson was born in the USA. He grew up in Australia and started his show biz career there.

[vpintheak]

Awesome!

[PROCON]

I’ve always like Gibson despite his numerous falls from grace.

[rikkir]

Holy Moly.
Why hasn’t this soldier’s story been told before now. Wow.

Thank you Mr. Gibson, this soldier needs to be held as an example of true bravery.

I still say “The Passion of the Christ” was one of the most important movies of all time. You can’t watch it and come away unmoved.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Welcome back Mel...I have missed your films.

[FreedomStar3028]

This soldier was superman. Literally.

Wtf. He got of the litter for a worse off soldier. Then while waiting got injured more, then crawled 300 yards to the aid station?

Balls. Of. Steel.

Rambo would blush.

[Inyo-Mono]

This solider’s story is incredible!

[rikkir]

This soldier was superman.

That is funny.

I almost posted “Did anyone ever check and see if PFC Doss had a big red S under his uniform?”.

[Twinkie]

Yes. It is incredible. I remember reading about him when he passed away. - I do believe he walked with the Lord & vice versa.

[max americana]

I pass by his house in Malibu and even go to the bar where that “incident” happened. Those people all tell me even though he’s “off”, he’s one of the nicest showbiz guys they know.

[fatima]

Watching Lethal Weapon Marathon up the mountains right now.Put it on and all the men knew which movie number it was.

[Kartographer]

ping