Hacksaw Ridge is based on the historical accounts of Private Desmond Doss, who walked onto the battlefield of the Maeda escarpment in April 1945, nicknamed "Hacksaw Ridge" because of the sheer cliff side, armed with nothing but his Bible and religious faith.

Did Hacksaw Ridge actually happen?

Summary. Real-life hero Desmond Doss saved 75 soldiers in WWII without firing a shot, as depicted in the 2016 biographical war film Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson. Despite some minor changes to the story, Hacksaw Ridge was praised by Doss's son for its historical accuracy.

Is Hacksaw Ridge an actual place?

Hacksaw Ridge, a 500-foot-high plateau, is in southern Okinawa. The plateau on top stretched about 4,200 yards from east to west. Its face was a crest consisting of a sheer rock wall that could only be scaled with ladders or special climbing gear.

Did they really climb Hacksaw Ridge?

Using cargo nets, Doss' battalion was tasked with climbing a treacherous, 400-foot-high jagged cliff, nicknamed Hacksaw Ridge, to get to a plateau. Waiting for them were thousands of heavily armed Japanese soldiers entrenched in hidden caves and holes.

What is Hacksaw Ridge today?

Maeda Escarpment, a.k.a. “Hacksaw Ridge,” is now commonly recognized as part of Urasoe Castle Ruin. Urasoe City Office's website says that since the movie was released, many people have come to see the actual site where Pfc. Desmond Doss rescued 75 or more people May 5, 1945.

E154: Tour of Hacksaw Ridge - WW2 Okinawa Battle Sites

How many Americans died taking Hacksaw Ridge?

About 2,500 Americans lost their lives and nearly twice as many Japanese troops. In the movie Hacksaw Ridge, they show Japanese soldiers killing wounded American soldiers.

Did the Japanese target medics?

The Japanese liked to target corpsmen and Army medics, as well as doctors. They knew if they hurt or killed someone with medical training, they wouldn't be able to help other wounded Marines or soldiers.

How much of Hacksaw Ridge is real?

Most characters in Hacksaw Ridge are real as it is a biographical film. Desmond is the central figure and his life experiences are faithfully depicted. Other characters in the movie are composites or represent multiple people.

How tall was the actual Hacksaw Ridge?

The real “Hacksaw Ridge” is the eastern end of the Urasoe-Mura Escarpment on Okinawa, and the cliff face there is approximately 400 feet high.

Why didn't they cut the rope at Hacksaw Ridge?

This question has been answered in a documentary starring the actual Desmond Doss. The japanese didn't cut the rope because that was the only entrance to the battlefield.

Who was the soldier who refused to carry a gun?

Desmond Thomas Doss (February 7, 1919 – March 23, 2006) was an American United States Army corporal who served as a combat medic with an infantry company in World War II. Due to his religious beliefs, he refused to carry a weapon.

What was left out of Hacksaw Ridge?

Undoubtedly one of the bigger omissions from Hacksaw Ridge is that Desmond Doss served in two other battles before Japan. In reality, Doss was at the Battles of Guam and Leyte, both in 1944. The Battle of Okinawa was not until 1945, meaning the film omits Doss' role in the prior two conflicts.

How many lives did Desmond Doss save?

[1]Desmond Doss is credited with saving 75 soldiers during one of the bloodiest battles of World War II in the Pacific — and he did it without ever carrying a weapon. The battle at Hacksaw Ridge, on the island of Okinawa, was a close combat fight with heavy weaponry.

How brutal was Hacksaw Ridge?

At around the halfway mark, the fighting comes, and the film explodes into a kaleidoscope of horrors. To put it bluntly, Hacksaw Ridge contains some of the most gruesome and brutally violent mass battle scenes I've ever seen on the big screen.

How bloody was Hacksaw Ridge?

Violence & Gore (16)

They are long, and filled with bloody gunfire, graphic stabbings with knives and bayonets, and many explosions which separate limbs and leave blood everywhere. Guts, limbs, intestines, and blood everywhere.

How many bodies did Hacksaw Ridge save?

Doss spent a grueling 12 hours on Hacksaw Ridge, saving the lives of 75 people, including his captain, with his acts of bravery as a combat medic. Doss deflected enemy grenades and sustained injuries but remained at the top of the cliff, refusing to leave until all injured soldiers were brought to safety.

How many people survived Hacksaw Ridge?

The film switches to real photos and footage showing that Desmond was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman for rescuing 75 soldiers at Hacksaw Ridge, as well as real-life footage of Desmond just before his death, recounting his experiences during the war.

How accurate is the combat in Hacksaw Ridge?

During the Battle of Okinawa, Hacksaw Ridge shows a United States Army corporal saving approximately 75 injured men. The heroic actions of Desmond Doss might seem too good to be true, but many of what's portrayed in Hacksaw Ridge accurately reflect Doss' real-life actions.

Is Desmond Doss still alive?

Desmond Thomas Doss died at his home in Piedmont, Alabama, of a respiratory ailment on 23 March 2006 and was buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery, in Tennessee.

Did Desmond Doss really help a Japanese soldier?

On May 4, 1945, Doss spent 12 hours single-handedly retrieving and lowering wounded soldiers from the battlefield to safety, down the edge of the cliff at Hacksaw Ridge. He tried to rescue both American and Japanese soldiers, though no Japanese soldiers survived.

Who won the Battle of Hacksaw Ridge?

His iron determination and unflagging courage resulted in at least 75 lives saved that day, May 5, 1945, his Sabbath. Eventually, the Americans took Hacksaw Ridge.

How long did Hacksaw Ridge last?

The battle on Hacksaw Ridge took place on a 400-foot cliff and lasted 11 days. The Japanese soldiers utilized underground tunnels and bunkers across the ridge which forced American troops to scale the cliff-like terrain to get to the enemy.

Why did Japan shoot medics?

The Japanese liked to target corpsmen and Army medics, as well as doctors. They knew if they hurt or killed someone with medical training, they wouldn't be able to help other wounded Marines or soldiers.

Could you shoot medics in WWII?

Medics were unarmed, and they were identified by the Red Cross symbol on their helmets and arm bands. Even so, they weren't always spared as a target.

Are medics off limits in war?

The First Geneva Convention stated that there should be no "obstacle to the humanitarian activities" and that wounded and sick "shall be respected and protected in all circumstances." Article 18 demanded that medical units, i.e. hospitals and mobile medical facilities, may in no circumstances be attacked.