Many are familiar with the story of Desmond T. Doss, and how he single-handedly rescued and lowered 75 fallen soldiers to safety from Hacksaw Ridge during the battle of Okinawa. Following that heroic event, orders came down from the Division that the escarpment had to be taken no matter what the cost.

By then, the men of “B” Company had come to implicitly trust Desmond. He was their security blanket. Men who had not wanted to go into battle with a man who wouldn’t carry a gun felt safe knowing that Desmond would take care of them no matter what. But the day was Saturday, May 5, 1945, Desmond’s day of rest. Captain Vernon asked Desmond, the only medic they had left, if he would mind going on the mission. Desmond agreed if he could finish his private devotions first. Captain Vernon knew that a request to delay the assault would affect the entire Division, but he sent it up the chain of command anyway. The delay was granted by Colonel Hamilton—the same man who had tried to shame Desmond into carrying a gun during basic training.

Desmond simply lived his life the way he imagined Christ would. He told me, “I was fighting for freedom by trying to save life instead of taking life, because I couldn’t picture Christ there with a gun killing people. I like to think of Him out there with an aide kit like me.”

Terry Benedict is a filmmaker. He produced "The Conscientious Objector," a documentary about the life of Desmond T. Doss.

You can find out more about Terry Benedict and the Shae Foundation at: www.shaefoundation.org