United States
Desmond Doss
said
Blood had run down into the fella's face and eyes. He was laying there just groaning and calling for a medic.
— The Conscientious Objector documentary (2004)
Desmond Doss
American solder, pacifist, and combat medic; recipient of the Purple Heart medal, recipient of the Medal of Honor (1919–2007)
- Fame61.0
- Momentum0.6
- United States rank#238
Source-basedStable
- Fame61.0
- Momentum0.6
- United States rank#238
- Business Professionals rank#178
- Wikipedia136.2K
Lived 1919–2006, aged 87United States
Summary
Updated 2026-06-21
He went to war unarmed. Desmond Doss refused to carry a weapon into combat on religious grounds — then saved 75 men at Okinawa and became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor.
Biography
About
Desmond Thomas Doss was born February 7, 1919, and enlisted as a combat medic with a U.S. Army infantry company in World War II. His convictions kept him from touching a gun, which made him an oddity and a target for suspicion. He earned two Bronze Stars for actions on Guam and in the Philippines, then came Okinawa: working alone under fire, he pulled an estimated 75 wounded men to safety in the Battle of Okinawa, an act that earned him the Medal of Honor in 1945 — the first ever awarded to a conscientious objector. Two others, Thomas W. Bennett and Joseph G. LaPointe Jr., would receive it pos…
Voice
In their own words
Sourced, dated quotes from Desmond Doss
Desmond Doss
said
I was praying the whole time. I just kept praying, "Lord, please help me get one more." When I got this, I said, "Lord, please help me get one more.
— The Conscientious Objector documentary (2004)
Desmond Doss
said
I was working in Newport News, Virginia, in a shipyard in defense work. I could have been deferred.
— Interview with AMEDD Center of History & Heritage (1987)
Desmond Doss
said
I didn't believe in taking a life. I felt like God gave life, it wasn't for me to take. When I was growing up, I was the [unclear] child.
— Interview with AMEDD Center of History & Heritage (1987)
Desmond Doss
said
I felt it an honor to serve my country, God and country, same as the rest of them. The only thing, I just didn't want to take life.
— Interview with AMEDD Center of History & Heritage (1987)
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Fame
Stable61.0
Composite of search demand, mentions, audience & graph footprint.
Score components
Momentum0.6
Historical28.7
Source confidence70.0
Completeness80.0
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Sources
- WikipediaHigh confidencewikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- WikidataHigh confidencewikidata · wikidata.org
- Pantheon 2.0High confidencedatabase · pantheon.world
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