The recently released movie Hacksaw Ridge tells the amazing story of the courageous actions in WWII of Medal of Honor Recipient Desmond Doss.
To provide insight into the man the movie is about, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation has released the video below, whereby Doss tells his own story.
(Army medic Desmond Doss single-handedly brought 75 wounded troops to safety while under constant fire on Okinawa on May 5, 1945. President Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor on October 12, 1945. Courtesy of Medal of Honor: Oral Histories and YouTube)
“I knew Desmond for more than 30 years and Hacksaw Ridge does a great job telling the story of his life and the battle in which he earned the Medal,” said Col. (retired) Jack Jacobs, Medal of Honor Recipient and Foundation co-chairman.
“However, it’s compelling and moving to hear Desmond tell his own story, in his own words.”
Doss, a combat medic in World War II who was a conscientious objector and refused to carry a weapon in combat, received the Medal of Honor after saving the lives of more than 70 soldiers during a battle on the island of Okinawa in 1945. In the movie Hacksaw Ridge, Doss is played by actor Andrew Garfield in the Mel Gibson-directed film now playing in theaters nationwide.
To learn more about Desmond Doss, Please visit the the Living History section of the Congressional Medal of Honor Societies website at http://themedalofhonor.com/medal-of-honor-recipients/recipients/doss-desmond-world-war-two.
Visit www.themedalofhonor.com to learn more about the Medal of Honor, its Recipients and the education, outreach and recognition programs they support.
(Hacksaw Ridge Official Featurette – “The True Story of Desmond Doss”, courtesy of Lionsgate Movies and YouTube)
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society was chartered by the Congress in 1958 to create a brotherhood among the living Medal of Honor recipients, to protect and uphold the dignity and honor of the Medal, to promote patriotism and love of country, and to inspire our youth to become worthy and dedicated citizens of our nation.
Its membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor. Today, there are 76 living recipients of the Medal of Honor.
The Society is unique in that its membership hopes that there will be no need to welcome new inductees.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation was founded in 1999 by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to perpetuate the legacy of the Medal.
Through character development, scholarship and citizen recognition programs based on the values embodied in the Medal — courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism — the Foundation teaches all citizens that they can make a difference in the lives of others.
The Foundation also supports the important work of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. A 501©(3) nonprofit organization with Tax ID #25-1828488, the Foundation carries a rating of 4/4 stars for fiscal management, accountability and transparency from Charity Navigator, America’s premiere nonprofit evaluator.
