On Friday, November 8th, a group of students from Pillager Area Charter School went to see an educational WWII film called Hacksaw Ridge. Hacksaw Ridge was written about the real life events of a WWII Veteran named Desmond Doss. Desmond was a field medic that did more during his short time in the war than anyone would have thought possible. While there were many medics in the war, Desmond’s story is special.
Desmond decided he would go into battle without any sort of protection against the enemy - no gun, no grenades, no knife. The only thing he brought was the medical supplies he was issued and a bible his wife had given him before he departed. He chose this course of action both because of his religious beliefs, and because of earlier events that happened during his childhood. Desmond’s father, William, played a big role in Desmond’s decision to not touch a weapon during the war. His father was also a veteran. He had served in WWI, and had returned home with PTSD due to the things he had to do to save himself and his friends. After the war, he became an alcoholic, and was verbally and physically abusive to his wife and two sons. One day his father was very drunk, and threatened to shoot Desmond’s mother. Desmond stepped in and took the gun away from him, and aimed it at his father, but didn’t pull the trigger. Ever since that day he swore not to pick up another gun. During the movie, students got to see a glimpse of the bravery that Desmond had. Students were shown the magnitude of the things that some of the soldiers had to face. After going through basic training, Desmond and his platoon were sent to Hacksaw Ridge to fight the Battle of Okinawa. Upon arrival the soldiers geared up and said their prayers as artillery was fired onto the top of the ridge. After the artillery shells stopped being launched, they were ordered to scale the sheer cliff, using only a rope ladder than had been there from previous attacks. During the first wave of attacks, Desmond managed to escape death several times, and save over twenty-five men. During his second day atom the ridge, Desmond’s platoon was overrun with enemy soldiers and ordered to retreat. Before they even managed to get off the cliff, they had called in artillery as a means of defence against the Japanese. Though artillery was to begin shelling again, Desmond decided to stay to save as many wounded men as he could. Even with the hellfire of explosions around him, he managed to drag men across the gritty, charred and mangled battlefield to the edge of the cliff. It was there he tied a special knot to lower each and every man to safety below. Desmond went above and beyond the call of duty, not once stopping to think of his own well-being, but instead asking God to help him save “just one more”. Desmond pushed forward so he could bring other men back home. Throughout the next two days he saved a miraculous seventy-five men, including two enemy soldiers. Desmond was only sent back home after sustaining injury to his leg and buttox after kicking a grenade to save the lives of the men around him. Desmond risked his life countless times, and all to save the lives of men he had never known. For his amazing acts of bravery and compassion, Desmond Doss will be remembered as one of the greatest men to serve in the United States military. By: Braden Beach
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Staff:Kitra Barros Links
June 2020
|