World War II Database

1.  David Stubblebine says:
21 Oct 2016 12:15:46 PM

I have read many citations from World War II, almost all of them describing some very heroic deeds, but this one tops them all. The Medal of Honor citation for Desmond Doss reads:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Desmond Thomas Doss, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty from April 29 - 21 May 1945, while serving with the Medical Detachment, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, in action at Urasoe Mura, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. Private First Class Doss was a company aid man when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet high As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar and machinegun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Private First Class Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying them one-by-one to the edge of the escarpment and there lowering them on a rope-supported litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands. On 2 May, he exposed himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire in rescuing a wounded man 200 yards forward of the lines on the same escarpment; and two days later he treated four men who had been cut down while assaulting a strongly defended cave, advancing through a shower of grenades to within eight yards of enemy forces in a cave's mouth, where he dressed his comrades' wounds before making four separate trips under fire to evacuate them to safety. On 5 May, he unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms fire to assist an artillery officer. He applied bandages, moved his patient to a spot that offered protection from small arms fire and, while artillery and mortar shells fell close by, painstakingly administered plasma. Later that day, when an American was severely wounded by fire from a cave, Private First Class Doss crawled to him where he had fallen 25 feet from the enemy position, rendered aid, and carried him 100 yards to safety while continually exposed to enemy fire. On 21 May, in a night attack on high ground near Shuri, he remained in exposed territory while the rest of his company took cover, fearlessly risking the chance that he would be mistaken for an infiltrating Japanese and giving aid to the injured until he was himself seriously wounded in the legs by the explosion of a grenade. Rather than call another aid man from cover, he cared for his own injuries and waited five hours before litter bearers reached him and started carrying him to cover. The trio was caught in an enemy tank attack and Private First Class Doss, seeing a more critically wounded man nearby, crawled off the litter; and directed the bearers to give their first attention to the other man. Awaiting the litter bearers' return, he was again struck, this time suffering a compound fracture of one arm. With magnificent fortitude he bound a rifle stock to his shattered arm as a splint and then crawled 300 yards over rough terrain to the aid station. Through his outstanding bravery and unflinching determination in the face of desperately dangerous conditions Private First Class Doss saved the lives of many soldiers. His name became a symbol throughout the 77th Infantry Division for outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty.

2. David gonzalez says:
1 May 2017 01:15:07 PM

i wish i meet him tho man that sucks desmond doss will never be forgoten

3. Anonymous says:
21 May 2017 10:37:27 AM

he was truly a amazing man I wish to never forget. He is like a idol and wish to impact america as much as he did one day.

4. Anonymous says:
5 Mar 2018 10:04:14 AM

I'm doing Desmond for the wax museum. A truly amazing soul that has inspired all and will always be remembered.

5. Anonymous says:
31 May 2018 01:31:19 PM

Wow. He must have been scared half to death in the war.

6. Anonymous says:
4 Feb 2019 09:28:28 AM

what an amazing guy

7. Dalinar says:
3 Sep 2019 11:41:19 PM

Hacksaw Ridge
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119532/

8. I DONT CARE BUT I DO says:
24 Oct 2019 05:32:52 PM

YEAH THIS GUY IS EPIC!! IM DOING A PROJECT ABOUT HIM

9. Anonymous says:
27 Feb 2020 09:57:42 AM

He is awesome Im doing a project on him right know #7th grade