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Matt L.

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King Solomon's Mines (Allan Quatermain, #1)

by H. Rider Haggard

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Jan 05, 2018 04:47PM

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Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge

by Booton Herndon

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Matt L. said: " Part 1.
Desmond T. Doss was born in the small town of Lynchburg Virginia, on February 7, 1919. His parents, William and Bertha Doss, raised him strictly as a Seventh Day Adventist, and among other things, he was required to be a vegetarian, to be nonv Part 1.
Desmond T. Doss was born in the small town of Lynchburg Virginia, on February 7, 1919. His parents, William and Bertha Doss, raised him strictly as a Seventh Day Adventist, and among other things, he was required to be a vegetarian, to be nonviolent, to not carry any sort of weapon, and to do no physical exertion on the Sabbath day.
At the outbreak of World War Two, he enlisted into military duty on April 1st, 1942. Because Doss was an Adventist, he refused to so much as touch a weapon, let alone kill an enemy with one. This created much tension between Doss’ and his comrades and superiors. Doss became a medic in the Army, and time and time again Doss proved his bravery and courage on the battlefield. Over the course of 3 years of active duty, he personally saved hundreds of men and over 70 in a single battle! Doss performed countless other amazing feats of courage during his service. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that Doss was able to pull it all off without ever carrying a weapon. The book is filled to the brim with stories of Doss’ heroism, and there is a reason that Doss became the first conscientious objector or a soldier who refused to carry a weapon, to win the United States Medal of Honor.

Part 2.
I really enjoyed this book, and it is probably one of the best war stories I have ever read. It is very much like a lot of war stories that I have read, and it was masterfully written, easy to read, simple but elegant, and utterly and truly inspiring. It made me feel kind of insignificant compared to all of the amazing things that he had done. Even though I do not agree with every little detail of his faith, I admire his faith nonetheless. It is amazing that through all of the abuse, cruelty and evil things laid upon him that he didn’t just break down and quit. I really admire his persistence, to be able to push through all that he faced. This book was truly inspiring.

Part 3.
The big idea word that I chose for this book is belief. Desmond Doss had a stronger belief in his faith than any person that I have ever heard of. He faced more trials and troubles within a few short years than I probably will in my entire lifetime. Doss’ comrades literally hated him at first because he believed that you should not carry a weapon. He was abused, picked on, and trampled upon, yet still, his belief in God stayed fast. He fought for three years among the horrors of war, watched countless friends die before his eyes or in his arms, yet his belief in God held fast. Doss said “I don't know how I'm going to live with myself if I don't stay true to what I believe”
I don’t think that there is anything short of hell that could have threatened Doss’ faith more than the situation he was in, and yet he stayed faithful. Never once did he doubt, curse, question, or get angry with God. Belief and faith like that of Desmond Doss is something that all Christians should strive for, and I think about Desmond Doss every time I am tested, and I remind myself that if he could get through it, so can I. I realize that I have stressed this time and time again, but it is so astounding that Doss could make it through everything with his faith not only intact but strengthened. One must really read the book to really understand what Doss went through.
Doss also dealt with many things, good and bad, after the war that strengthened his faith and beliefs. He spent months in the hospital recovering from his wounds, both mental and physical. He would forever walk with a limp from a shrapnel wound, and he lost a lung to tuberculosis, and still, every day that he was conscious and capable he prayed to God giving thanks. Doss said, “While everybody is taking life I’m going to be saving it, and that’s going to be my way to serve”
Whenever Doss prayed throughout the war, no matter what situation he was in, he always gave thanks first, no matter what his other needs or desires were. He always asked for the protection of others before himself, and he put others before himself for the rest of his life. ...more "

Jan 05, 2018 04:45PM · see review