During World War II an Army corporal and medic named Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector, became an unlikely hero. According to the Selective Service System, a conscientious objector is “one who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles.” Desmond, who was born and raised in the Blue Mountains of Virginia, was a simple country boy. When Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, Desmond, just like many of his male peers, felt a patriotic sense of duty to help his country, enlisting in the Army.
Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson, starts with “A True Story.” The film follows a young Desmond as he grows into a young man. Family turmoil had a tremendous impact on Desmond’s moral and religious beliefs, and while he wished to be of service to his nation during World War II, Desmond remained steadfast in his convictions. As a Christian who strictly followed the Ten Commandments, Desmond felt strongly that he could not and would not pick up a weapon to harm or kill anyone.
When he enlisted, Desmond naively believed that his religious beliefs would be respected, and that he could serve as a medic without ever having to carry a gun like all of the other soldiers in his battalion. “While everybody else is taking life, I’m gonna be saving it,” he maintained. Andrew Garfield did an exceptional job portraying Desmond, perfectly capturing how humble and courageous he was when confronted time and time again by people who accused him of being a coward. The men in Desmond’s unit, including Sgt. Howell, played by Vince Vaughn, felt that his refusal to pick up a weapon somehow would jeopardize their own safety on the battlefield, and were incredulous that Desmond would willingly put himself in harm’s way with only a helmet on his head as protection.
While most people would succumb to the bullying, beatings, and berating that Desmond endured, he refused to waiver, even when it meant that his beliefs might affect his relationship with a young nurse named Dorothy, played by Teresa Palmer. Did Dorothy understand that his refusal to cave had nothing to do with his feelings for her, and would she continue to support him when everyone else sought to demean him?
It was when Desmond and his battalion were sent to Hacksaw Ridge in Okinawa, Japan that he went from being labeled a conscientious objector and coward to earning his place in history as a true hero. After a bloody battle where countless soldiers were killed or wounded, Desmond could have retreated, but instead risked his own life time and time again to rescue injured soldiers from the field. His acts of courage were inspirational as well as unbelievable.
The movie is definitely not for the squeamish as many of the battle scenes were extremely brutal, but the story is definitely one that everyone should see, especially given that Veterans Day is approaching. I had never heard of Desmond Doss prior to this film, but after seeing Hacksaw Ridge, I feel genuinely grateful that I now know his story. Whether you are religious, spiritual, or patriotic (or all of the above), the movie has timeless lessons for everyone. Viewers will undoubtedly always carry a special place in their hearts for Desmond, a Medal of Honor recipient.
My friend Kris attended the movie with me, and shared, “Desmond was made out to be a coward and made to serve as an example of what happens when you don’t follow the rules, but that only made him stronger mentally and spiritually. In the end, he led by example despite the criticism and abuse he was shown for his beliefs. He proved that even in the eyes of evil, your beliefs can prevail. It’s a reminder that we need to keep our minds open to others and respect their opinions, to learn to forgive and never forget to love.”
Movie times: click here
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Director: Mel Gibson
Actors: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Vince Vaughn
Rating: R for intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence including grisly bloody images
Running Time: 2 hours 11 minutes
