Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Desmond Doss, succumbs

Desmond T. Doss, Sr., has died at 87 years of age. He was the only
conscientious objector to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor
during World War II and a long-time member of the Georgia-Cumberland
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Doss passed away Thursday morning, March 23, 2006, at his residence in
Piedmont, Alabama. He is survived by his wife Frances, his son, Desmond
T. Doss, Jr., and his brother, Harold Doss. He was preceded in death by
his first wife Dorothy Schutte and his sister Audrey Millner.

Doss never liked being called a conscientious objector. He preferred
the term conscientious cooperator. Raised a Seventh-day Adventist, Doss
did not believe in using a gun or killing because of the sixth
commandment which states, "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13). Doss
was a patriot however, and believed in serving his country.

During World War II, instead of accepting a deferment, Doss voluntarily
joined the Army as a conscientious objector. Assigned to the 307th
Infantry Division as a company medic he was harassed and ridiculed for
his beliefs, yet he served with distinction and ultimately received the
Congressional Medal of Honor on October 12, 1945 for his fearless acts
of bravery.

According to his Medal of Honor citation, time after time, Doss'
fellow soldiers witnessed how unafraid he was for his own safety. He was
always willing to go after a wounded fellow, no matter how great the
danger. On one occasion in Okinawa, he refused to take cover from enemy
fire as he rescued approximately 75 wounded soldiers, carrying them
one-by-one and lowering them over the edge of the 400-foot Maeda
Escarpment. He did not stop until he had brought everyone to safety
nearly 12 hours later.

When Doss received the Medal of Honor from President Truman, the
President told him, "I'm proud of you, you really deserve this. I
consider this a greater honor than being President."

Doss' exemplary devotion to God and his country has received
nationwide attention. On July 4, 2004, a statue of Doss was placed in
the National Museum of Patriotism in Atlanta, Ga., along with statues of
Dr. Martin Luther King, President Jimmy Carter, and retired Marine Corps
General Gray Davis, also a Medal of Honor recipient. Also in 2004, a
feature-length documentary called "The Conscientious Objector,"
telling Doss' story of faith, heroism, and bravery was released. A
feature movie describing Doss' story is also being planned.

Statement from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America
"The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America expresses its
deepest sorrow in the loss of Desmond Doss. Desmond is considered to be
a role model - especially to many of our members in the Seventh-day
Adventist Church. His decision to not bear arms in the most dangerous of
times was a courageous and heroic decision that has in turn affected
many lives. We are proud to have had Desmond as a member of our
Church." - Pastor Don Schneider, President of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church in North America

The world and our church has lost a great man.

I was a conscientious objector in the US Army and served as a medic attached to an airborne unit during the Vietnam war. I refused to train with or use a weapon. Desmond Doss was always a hero in my thinking. I was privileged to hear and meet him personally at the Loma Linda Hill Church about a year ago.
I don't believe that the current position of the SDA church in supporting SDA as combatants is right. How can God be pleased to see SDA in the US possibly shooting at and killing SDA in other armies? Or "Christians" in the military of one country at war with Christians in another country? I can't believe such a practice and view is according to God's will or plan.
I believe the Jehovah's Witness are correct in believing they should be neutral in all these conflicts and should not serve in any capacity at all that serves the war effort. On this issue they are more in line with what the Bible teaches. Jim

Doss' bravery in saving those men was incredible. His selfless attention to the lives of his fellow soldiers should be a powerful example to everyone.

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I believe the Jehovah's Witness are correct in believing they should be neutral in all these conflicts and should not serve in any capacity at all that serves the war effort. On this issue they are more in line with what the Bible teaches. Jim

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Actually war and killing are in line with what the Bible teaches. After God said "Thou shalt not kill," he told his children to go kill everyone in their way. He even told them to kill babies and children. He told them to attack and destroy cities and towns killing every living thing in them. When Saul spared the lives of some animals and people in a war, he was cursed for not killing them.

Can't wait to see the movie. I read the book several times when I was a kid, and held Doss as one of my heroes.

Oops! Sorry. I posted the news in Obituaries. Forgot to look here for the news.

That's fine Jeannie, it should be there as well