CO Hero

The bravest man-of-the-week on Okinawa--at least to the 77th Infantry Division--was a conscientious objector: Private First Class Desmond T. Doss, 26, Medical Corpsman and Seventh-day Adventist.

Private Doss had planned to spend his Saturday (the Adventist Sabbath) as usual --in prayer and meditation. His commanding officer came to his tent and asked if he would forego the privilege that day; Doss happened to be the only corpsman available to a company scheduled to attack an escarpment. Doss said: "Captain, it is fine with me, but you'll have to wait a few minutes while I read my Bible here."

As soon as Doss had finished his reading, the attack began. The assault force gained the top of the escarpment, then was driven back by heavy Jap mortar fire. When the company reassembled at the bottom of the hill, Doss was missing.

Some 20 minutes later he was seen standing alone on the high, bitterly contested escarpment. He signaled that he would lower the wounded to safety. The company commander ordered him to come down, but he paid no attention until he had removed the last of 75 wounded men. Despite disobeying orders, CO Doss last week received special commendation from his divisional commander.

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