The Conscientious Objector - Man Without a Gun

Terry Benedict's Documentary of a WWII Soldier Who Wanted to Serve

Oct 14, 2009

Desmond Doss refused deferment for the honor of serving his country, but called himself a conscientious cooperator, not a conscientious objector- he would serve as medic.

When World War II was taking place, many would have jumped at the chance for a deferment rather than facing the horror of war. But for young Desmond Doss, serving his country was an honor he would have to fight for. Refusing the deferment he could have received as a worker in the Naval Shipyard, he agreed to serve, but to serve without a rifle - in keeping with his faith as a Seventh Day Adventist. He was originally sent to a Conscientious Objector's camp, along with men who refused to wear the uniform, or refused to salute the flag, or those who refused to serve at all. Desmond felt he did not belong with those men; he wanted to serve. He wanted to be a medic, but the Army had a different idea. It took patience and persistence for Desmond Doss to become a medic, but he had both to spare.

Terry Benedict Reveals A Man of Principle in His Documentary Looking Back at WWII

When Desmond was sent to the medical division, he was delighted. But Desmond's continual requests for his Sabbath off was a source of conflict with his commanding officer. Later, Desmond was sent to Camp Hyder in Arizona for desert training, along with his division. Walking in the desert in 120 degree weather with a sole canteen of water caused some of the men to suffer and a few to die. Desmond went to his company commander to request adequate water rations for the men, but his company commander told him to follow orders or take it to the battalion commander . He did, and the men got their water, but Desmond became a target for the commander. The conditions at Camp Hyder were dismal, and desertions became frequent. Desmond spent his days treating men for dehydration and suntroke and sharing his rations and water to try to help as many of them survive as he could.

Soon Desmond would be in the theater of war, facing the brutality unarmed and firsthand. Listening to men who are quite aged as their interviews are recorded, it is touching to hear their horror stories of wartime. Seeing elderly men, many very stooped and fragile, walking across the land where they were once young fighting men, says something about the legacy of war. The dehumanization of war, the choices men had to make to survive, are clearly delineated in this documentary. The clarity which these men recall every detail reminds the viewer of the emotional impact of war and how is survives time.

Not A Conscientious Objector but a Conscientious Cooperator and a Seventh Day Adventist

During one particularly harrowing battle, the carnage was so pervasive that the young Desmond, a company medic, was busier than he could ever have imagined. After being ridiculed for months about being unimportant and threatened by his commander with court martial for refusing to carry a gun, Desmond became an indispensable man of courage as he risked his life time and again, climbing up and down cliffs, helping lower men to safety, and then climbing up to once again risk his life for his men. But despite his heroics, Desmond continued to try to respect his Sabbath and to honor his faith. He demonstrated what it means to stand for something, to walk what you talk, and to be a man of honor. This is a stirring story told mostly by old war veterans from World War II, but it is dramatic and moving nonetheless. It is the story of a son from a depression-era household who lived by a simple creed and a simple faith. A good tale lacking the graphic action of most WWI stories, but filled with real people and very real stories. A lovely tribute.

The copyright of the article The Conscientious Objector - Man Without a Gun in Biographical Documentaries is owned by Barbara DeGrande. Permission to republish The Conscientious Objector - Man Without a Gun in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.