Hacksaw Ridge: The True Story of Desmond Doss

by Ronald Kruk

According to Doss's account in a documentary film titled "The Contentious Objector", as he rescued soldiers one-by-one, he breathed into the air with each go-around, "Lord, please help me get one more."The modest man of faith claims to have saved 50 wounded soldiers from certain death. His comrades claim that he saved 100. President Harry S. Truman presented him with the Congressional Medal of Honor upon his return to the United States, for his heroics on Okinawa, and the citation credits him with saving 75 lives, splitting the difference."From a human standpoint, I shouldn't be here to tell the story," said Doss in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "No telling how many times the Lord has spared my life." During World War II, 16,112,556 American soldiers served their country and the cause of the Allies, and only 43 received the Medal of Honor. Doss, who held a powerful allegiance to Christ, and was a devoted member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, became the first conscientious objector to receive the U.S. military's highest honor. Today, he is one of two conscientious objectors to have received it.

Genres: Biography, War, Nonfiction, World War II, History

54 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2017

Reviews

[Jane Mettee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this this in 2016. After seeing the movie local Seventh Day Adventists
passed out the book to whoever wanted one.
Desmond Doss wanted to serve his country but due to his religious beliefs
would not carry a gun or kill another person. He served as an army combat medic in WWII. He is credited with saving at least 75 men, rescuing them as they were under fire. He was Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. An amazing story of courage and faith.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven't heard this story, it is amazing. A man who won't carry a rifle fights to join the army as a medic during WWII. That is just the beginning though and despite the way others feel about Desmond Doss he proves his heroism and gets the respect of the world.

[Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short work but filled with good information about Doss. I enjoyed reading it and recommend it to anyone interested in what this heroic figure from World War Two did without carrying a gun or firing a shot. Two Bronze Stars and the Medal of Honor speak for themselves.

[Faye Scavone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational. Courageous. Recommended to anyone looking for a great story.

storey. Not enough good inspirational books it seems. Always looking for more . I grew up during that time in our history. Experienced the loss of family and freinds

[Michael Wooten · Rating 5 out of 5]

An American Hero

To often lately, it seems “Men of Faith” are interested in the wealth an power over others. Here is a man that lived by and truly lived for his faith. May weal, have his courage

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good, authorized by Doss estate. Contains more details and the actual narrative of his experiences, without the Hollywood embellishments (and I did enjoy the movie).

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspirational man with a unique story. Very short, quick read.

[Μαρία · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ένας τρομακτικός βράχος στο νησί Οκινάουα, στην Ιαπωνία. Οι στρατιώτες που πολέμησαν εκεί κατά τη διάρκεια του Β' Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου το ονόμασαν Hacksaw Ridge. Κατά τη διάρκεια της πιο αιματηρής μάχης στον Ειρηνικό, οι Ιάπωνες απώθησαν τους άνδρες που επιχείρησαν να ανέβουν στον βράχο. Μόνο 48 από τους 204 άνδρες που ξεκίνησαν τη μάχη δεν τραυματίστηκαν. Όλοι οι μαχητές στην Οκινάουα ήταν καλά οπλισμένοι, κουβαλώντας τουφέκια και χειροβομβίδες, εκτός από τον στρατιώτη Desmond Doss, ο οποίος αρνήθηκε να κρατήσει όπλο οποιουδήποτε είδους σε οποιοδήποτε πεδίο μάχης επειδή αντιτίθετο συνειδητά στη δολοφονία, ακόμη και σε καιρό πολέμου. Ο σεμνός ήρωας ισχυρίστηκε ότι έσωσε 50 τραυματισμένους στρατιώτες από βέβαιο θάνατο. Οι σύντροφοί του ισχυρίζονται ότι έσωσε 100. Ο Πρόεδρος Τρούμαν του απένειμε το Μετάλλιο Τιμής του Κογκρέσου κατά την επιστροφή του στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες, για τους ηρωισμούς του στην Οκινάουα. Αυτή είναι η ιστορία του Desmond Doss, τον οποίο οι περισσότεροι μάθαμε από την ταινία του Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge

[Elaina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book surprised me in many ways, first by how short it is. It's more like a pamphlet than a book. Considering the incredible story it's about I was hoping for more depth and detail. I was also struck by the formatting. It's written in default Arial font and double spaced; almost like writing a paper for school that has to be a certain length so you do what you can to fudge it a little. I will recommend the film until my dying day, but this book and anything by Ronald Kruk won't get the same consideration.

Instead of this being a biography about the event of individual, it's just a long summary of a documentary Ronald happened to see that he assumes others haven't. This could've been done so much better and the lost potential here is so heartbreaking. For a man as heroic and humble as Desmond with such an inspirational story attached to him, this book is an insult to his legacy.

[Haani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bro this was so stinking good, like actually insane. It was sad, inspiring, intense—all at once—and I was not ready for that emotional rollercoaster. Oml, the way Desmond Doss just kept going, saving people with zero weapons?? Wth bro. Like dude was actually crazyyyyy.

I frfr felt everythingggggg while reading this. Like bro, one second I was like dudeeeeee and the next I was hyped like wth bro calm down. This dude was actually built differenttttttt. Like the story hits hard and makes you think, yk? But also makes you wanna be a better person like dude I wish.

Highly recommend if you wanna feel all the things and just be in awe of a real-life legend.

[Brandy Osburn · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the story of Desmond Doss is amazing, this poorly written “book” is seriously lacking in detail and depth. There are more details about WWII in general than about Doss. The book is barely 50 pages long with short 3-4 sentence paragraphs and large gaps between paragraphs to give the book more length.

[Floyd Bidleman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summary of Desmond Doss

I did not like how this book was a summary of all other books. It did not say that it was anywhere.

[Jimmy S Woodard · Rating 3 out of 5]

INSPIRATIONAL

THIS READ WAS INSPIRING BUT LEFT OUT TOO MANY DETAILS AND WAS SOFT ON THE TRUE STRENGTH OF HIS FAITH.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent quick view of Mr. Doss's contribution to saving his fellow soldiers.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book corrects some of the details of Doss' life, it doesn't really tell much of the man's story. Instead of a being sold as a book, it should be advertised as a magazine article.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and nothing new

[Caitlin Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made me get a little bleary. I wish I had read it two weeks ago. I know someone who might have benefited from it. It's the perfect explanation of how a military member can also be a pacifist.

[Yz · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it!!!

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another tribute and more detailed story about the bravery of Desmond Doss; decorated for bravery and self-sacrifice while being a conscientious objector in WWII.