Posted on 03/24/2006 2:12:50 PM PST by Rodney King
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.
Mr. Doss never liked being called a conscientious objector. He preferred the term conscientious cooperator. Raised a Seventh-day Adventist, Mr. 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, Mr. 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 Oct. 12, 1945 for his fearless acts of bravery.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, time after time, Mr. 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 Mr. 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.”
Mr. Doss’ exemplary devotion to God and his country has received nationwide attention. On July 4, 2004, a statue of Mr. 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.
Mr. Doss died Thursday morning in Piedmont, Ala. He is survived by his wife, Frances; his son, Desmond T. Doss, Jr., and his brother, Harold Doss.
Visitation will held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, at Heritage Funeral Home, located at 3239 Battlefield Parkway, Fort Oglethorpe.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 1, at 3 p.m. at the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church located at 4829 College Drive East in Collegedale.
Burial will take place on Monday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
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).
Too bad Doss and General Davis had to be subjected to this dishonor.
The humble hero. He was a credit to his unit and to this country.
http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles/profiles_doss.html
I have a 'coffee table' book called 'Medal of Honor', which describes the acts of heroism that resulted in the award of the MoH to several dozen men. Mr. Doss is featured, along with the photo below on page 64.
I can nonly read the book in short increments, as the stories can be quite moving.
He is to be truly saluted.
What on earth is Jimmah Cahtah doing there ?
I've read Desmond Doss' biography many times...."The Unlikeliest Hero" is an awesome read about his religious struggles and actual battle experiences. I got to shake his hand a couple of years ago. A great man.
In the picture it's President Harry Truman; not Carter.
I read the action part of the story once, the rescue under enemy fire...Doss was hit more than once...quite a while ago. It was so fantastic that I can remember thinking that Sleazywood could never make this a movie because what Doss did was too unbelievably brave to be believed.
He's with his Maker now, may he finally rest in peace.
The narrative mentions JC...
Gives me goose bumps.
Can you tell me who the publisher/author was of your book....I might like to find one.....thanks.
Hey,the man refused to carry a rifle but he did *not* refuse to be placed in harm's way.That,in my book,makes him worthy of my respect and admiration.
This is in contrast to the Vietnam era when "CO" meant "I'll only serve in a cushy stateside hospital..."
That's not Jimmah.That's the next-to-last democRAT President to deserve the respect of decent Americans..HST.
(The last one,of course,being JFK)
Looks like Amozon has it on sale, only $25.00! (well worth it!)
RIP Desmond. You wioll always be a hero in our hearts. MY condolences to his friends and family.
Is that why he pardoned about 1500 CO's in Dec. of 1947?
I think you may have meant to say that Truman detested people who used CO as an excuse to avoid military service. I believe that he was a reasonable enough man to recognize that many did have legitimate religious grounds for CO status.
Many would question that.
There is no doubt in my mind that Kennedy's status of perpetual honor and his ranking as a President, was increased and remains high as a result of his martyrdom. Had he remained in office history would view him much differently.
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