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Doss believes country needs more patriotismBy RON CLARKRISING FAWN, Ga. (AP) -Desmond T. Doss, the only living conscientious objector to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, says the United States needs a resurgence of old-fashioned patriotism.Doss, who served as an Army medic in World War II even though his religious convictions forbade him from carrying weapons, is troubled by high crime rates and drug abuse.' “Our young people — the leaders of tomorrow — if all they know is wild life and drugs, that’s the kind of life our country is going to end up in,” he said. “But if they realize the cost of our freedom and learn to love and respectour country, we’ll have a better country than we have now.Doss, a Seventh-Day Adventist who devotes most of his time to his church and an Adventist school in this quiet Lookout Mountain community, received the Medal of Honor for his acts as a medic during the battle at Okinawa in April and May, 1945.The only other conscientious objector so honored was Army CpI. Thomas W. Bennett of Morgantown, W. Va., who was awarded the medal posthumously in 1970for service in Vietnam.Doss’ citation credits him with rescuing 75 wounded men from behind Japanese lines and lowering them down a cliff while under fire.Later, he crawled among the wounded, dodging bullets and shells,administering aid to so many men his own uniform became blood-soaked.Wounded by a grenade in both legs and a bullet in one arm, he patched himself up and continued to give first aid to other men.Doss said although it is against Adventist teachings to bear arms, they believe in serving their country and can be in the military if they are not called uoon for combat.“I’m a conscientious cooperator,” he said. “We believe in saving a life instead of taking one. We can serve both God and country and honor without having to go against our conscience.”Doss, 58, a native of Lynchburg, Va., was drafted in 1942. He refused to touch weapons, and insisted upon observingthe Sabbath during basic training. He was the target of jokes and threats for his convictions before the Army made him a medic.Nearly deaf, Doss said he doesn't keep up with the news as he should, but he approves of what President Carter is doing for world peace.“I don’t think there is anyone who appreciates peace more than I do. Because when you've literally been soaked to the skin by the blood of your men, you see many of them paying the supreme price in order that we can enjoy the freedom we now have.“Freedom is not free, he said. “It is very expensive. Many lives have been lost, and before it’s over, we know there’s going to be some more wars. ’ ’
Newspaper Details
Hammond Sunday Star
Hammond, Louisiana, US
Sun, Aug 07, 1977
Page 31
Full Page
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TX, USA 08 Nov 2024
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