Desmond Doss: The unlikely hero behind 'Hacksaw Ridge' | Article | The United States Army.

Who was the hero in Hacksaw Ridge?

On October 12, 1945, President Harry Truman presented the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration for valor under fire, to one of the most remarkable American heroes of World War II, Desmond Thomas Doss.

Who won Hacksaw Ridge?

Eventually, the Americans took Hacksaw Ridge. Okinawa was captured inch by bloody inch. Several days later, during an unsuccessful night raid, Desmond was severely wounded.

Who is the hero of Hacksaw Ridge the gripping true story that inspired the movie?

"Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge" is the incredible true story of Desmond Doss, recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during WWII. Doss was a Virginian, a patriot, and perhaps most crucial to the story, a devout Seventh Day Adventist.

Why is Desmond Doss a hero?

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.

Desmond Doss: Incredible Faith And Heroism At 'Hacksaw Ridge'

Is Desmond Doss a hero?

For his bravery in treating wounded men under fire during the fighting in Guam, Doss was awarded a Bronze Star for valor. After Guam, the 307th fought at Leyte. Again, Doss showed his dedication to his comrades and bravery in combat and was awarded a second Bronze Star.

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.

Is Hacksaw Ridge 100% true?

Yes, Hacksaw Ridge is based on a true story, and the source material for the same has been derived from Terry Benedict's novel, The Conscientious Objector. Desmond Doss is a real-life hero and a combat medic during World War II who served his country without carrying a weapon.

How many Japanese did Desmond Doss save?

He was twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal for actions on Guam and in the Philippines. Doss further distinguished himself in the Battle of Okinawa by saving an estimated 75 men, acting on his own, becoming the first of only three conscientious objectors to receive the Medal of Honor for this and other actions.

How many died on 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.

How did Hacksaw Ridge end?

Doss is eventually wounded by a grenade blast, but the battle is won. Doss descends the cliff, clutching the Bible Dorothy gave him. The film switches to archival photos and footage showing that Doss was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman for rescuing seventy-five soldiers at Hacksaw Ridge.

Does Doss get married in Hacksaw Ridge?

The charges against Desmond are dropped, and he and Dorothy are married. Desmond's unit is deployed to the Pacific Theater. During the Battle of Okinawa, Desmond's unit is tasked with ascending and securing the Maeda Escarpment ("Hacksaw Ridge").

How many people did Doss save?

Doss saved 75 men — including his captain, Jack Glover — over a 12-hour period. The same soldiers who had shamed him now praised him. “He was one of the bravest persons alive,” Glover says in the documentary. “And then to have him end up saving my life was the irony of the whole thing.”

What happened to Dorothy Doss?

Dorothy was accidentally killed in an automobile accident in 1991.

How many conscientious objectors won the Medal of Honor?

There have been three conscientious objectors who were awarded the Medal of Honor – the highest military honor in the US – without ever firing a weapon. One of those men is Desmond Doss, who has had his story translated to the silver screen in “Hacksaw Ridge,” a new movie directed by Mel Gibson.

Who was the soldier who refused to carry a gun?

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.

How high was the real Hacksaw Ridge?

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.

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.

What was inaccurate about Hacksaw Ridge?

Factual errors

None of the trainees in Basic Training have the proper haircut. Tom Doss never asked his former commander to write a letter that stopped Desmond T. Doss from being court-martialed.

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

Originally Answered: After watching "Hacksaw Ridge", my question is why didn't the Japanese just cut that rope ladder? 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.

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.

Did Desmond Doss have PTSD?

Doss, who was injured at Hacksaw Ridge (known as Maeda Kochi in Japan) in Urasoe during the fighting, was admitted to a U.S. army hospital five and a half years after the war for symptoms including persistent dreams of the battle, suffering from what we now know as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Why was it called Hacksaw Ridge?

The battlefield, located on top of a sheer 400-foot cliff, was fortified with a deadly network of Japanese machine gun nests and booby traps. The escarpment, nicknamed Hacksaw Ridge for the treacherously steep cliff, was key to winning the battle of Okinawa.

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.