History at the Movies #2: Hacksaw Ridge

The Power of Faith and Conviction

How do you reconcile your spiritual and secular obligations? It is a question that still plagues large parts of American society today, and the answer is not easy at all to many; much to the ire of those that place more value on secularism over religious conviction or those that truly believe the word of God is always superior to the laws of man or societal norms. Hacksaw Ridge depicts this struggle that Corporal Desmond Doss found his own answer to, during one of the nations most trying and bloodiest times; and with those answers preformed one of the most miraculous events in military history. 

The movie plays out in two distinct halves. The first half is his fight for his spiritual beliefs against an American military, who at the time were hostile to the high ideals of living and expressing ones religious belief if they contrasted the status quo. The second half, is very real and physical struggle to do ones duty and have faith in God in the hellish chaos of the battlefield, but in doing so he become one of the greatest combat medics ever known and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Desmond Doss (played by Andrew Garfield) of Lynchburg, Virginia, was a carpenter and later military shipyard worker, and a devote Seventh-Day Adventist. Though he had a deferment exempting him from the draft due to his employ in the shipyard, he felt an overwhelming sense of duty and responsibility, as he felt it unfair he should be safe at home while others were in the line of fire. He enlisted in the United States Army as a Conscientious Objector, a designation usually applied to draftees, refusing to wield a weapon against another human being. His deeply held religious beliefs, as well as two traumatic incidents at home, forbade him from even potentially harming another human being, including even touching a weapon. His aim was to preform as a front line combat medic, to provide healing and comfort to those suffering on the battlefield. This view severely frustrated not only his unit but also sergeant Howell (played by Vince Vaughn), Lieutenant Glover (Played by Sam Worthington), his superiors.

"I knew if I ever once compromised, I was gonna be in trouble, because if you can compromise once, you can compromise again."

Lieutenant Glover and Sergeant Howell

Through beatings from his fellow recruits (who Doss refused to rat out), pressure from his sergeant (who at first was enraged by Doss, but then felt sorry for him), and an attempt to have him declared mentally unfit for service (which the army psychologist rebuked to Glover), Doss refused to give up his convictions and his place in the service. Finally after refusing to pick up a rifle as a direct order from the company colonel, Doss was arrested and set to be court martialed for disobeying a direct order. In dramatic Hollywood fashion Desmond's father, in his old WWI uniform, shows up in court with a letter from his former lieutenant, now a general with considerable influence, excusing Desmond and reaffirming his status as a Conscientious Objector. The truth of the event was less monumental: Desmond father contacted chairman of the church's War Service Commission in Washington, Carlyle B. Haynes, who in turn threatened to start on independent investigation into the matter. This prompted the case to be dropped before the judges convened. And so Desmond goes off to war.

"With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me to wanna put a little bit of it back together."

The movie skips ahead in Desmond's career, not even acknowledging his roles in the Battles of Guam and Leyte. We are fast forwarded to the Battle of Okinawa. Okinawa, the culmination of the American Island Hopping Campaign of the Pacific theater of WWII, was an 82 day long battle to take the island everyone saw as America's gateway to a final invasion of Japan. In April 1945, Lieutenant Glover and Sergeant Howell's 1st Battalion, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division, including Desmond Doss, were assigned to take a ridge and plateau of land on top of the Maeda Escarpment, nicknamed Hacksaw Ridge for the sheer brutality of the fighting has been up there and viscous wounds of previous soldier's failed attempts to take it. After a day and a half day of fighting, and suffering heavy casualties, they too were forced to retreat back down the cliff. But Desmond was separated from the general retreat going back for one of the wounded. After recovering the man and lowering him to safety, Doss made the decision to stay up on the ridge all night trying to bring back as many of the wounded as possible, including a handful of Japanese soldiers. Each new rescue attempt came with its own challenges; Japanese patrols, sniper fire, the enemy tunnels that honeycombed the entire area, improvising tourniquets and other temporary treatments. And though exhausted after each rescue implored God to give him the strength to get "...just one more!". In all he is credited with the rescue and recovery of 75 wounded in one night, including Sergent Howell, even while wounded himself 4 times.

The Maeda Escarpment was about half as high as the movie portrayed it

After he himself was finally rescued from the ridge and treated for his wounds he became an instant hero to his fellow soldiers, especially those like Glover, that had previously mocked him for his beliefs. A few days later Glover's men would attempt a second attack on the ridge, but this time refused to head up until Desmond had led them in prayer. That day they would take the ridge, but not before Desmond Doss's last act of bravery. A Japanese grenade landed near were Doss and Glover were standing, Doss, seeing the grenade, shoved his Lieutenant into a hole before he himself was blown back by the blast. He would sit out the rest of the war convalescing from his injuries.

Corporal Desmond Doss Receiving the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman

With the exception the some details surrounding his wife Dorothy (played by Teresa Palmer), and the aforementioned court martial, the movie by all accounts is as near perfect accuracy you get in a historic biopic. In fact several other rescues that occurred that night were omitted from the film because director Mel Gibson thought the audience would never believe it, even though they really happened. And of course, as with Saving Private Ryan, you have the usual calls (from the usual ant-war sources) against so called war glorification and overt graphic violence, but again just like with Ryan, these editorials have been rebuked by experts and the men that were there. There is no doubt that director Mel Gibson's religious charismatic style of film making is all over the piece, but it not only works is wholly appropriate. Andrew Garfield is wonderfully likable as Doss with his aw shucks country attitude and thick southern accent. Sam Worthington's Glover is a character who your inclined to dislike at first but grow to understand and respect, making the transition very smooth and subtle through the film. But to me the most memorable performance had to be Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell, Doss's drill sergeant and later platoon leader. The role is a far cry from what we are use to seeing from Vaughn but he fit the bill very naturally, selling his role to me in his very first scene and like Worthington making a wonderful transition in how you view the character.

The movie's message is to find strength in conviction, and that strength need not come from muscle of the arm or the barrel of gun; is one of surprising inspiration. There was no wringing of the hands, no questioning one's faith; this was of a man whose beliefs were absolute to him. It is a nice change to see a movie were someone so secure in their beliefs that nothing, not society, military, or war, will change them. And that standing, unquestionable, to what you believe can yield great achievements. Too many stories now a days insist that a hero second guess himself, or go through some cathartic moment to achieve greatness. Desmond found is conviction and his mettle before the events that made him a hero, and it is his unwavering faith in God that helps him achieve the impossible

On a side note, the making and success of this movie is a bit of a redemption story for it's director Mel Gibson. For a few years now Gibson had been shunned by Hollywood, made a pariah by his several deplorable actions that he has since tried to make up for. Over the years he has tried with apologies, charitable works, and through the advocating of friends like Jodie Foster and Robert Downy Jr., to get back into the public's good graces. Many saw this movie as his last best hope of returning to the film industry. And it may have been the reprieve he was seeking.Try as they might his critics and the Hollywood elites could not bring themselves to disregard this story that had to be told, and was told brilliantly. Praise was deserved and had to be heaped upon the man they loved to hate this past decade. And with the exception of a few newspaper editorial's damming Gibson for all eternity for his past indiscretions, no matter what he does. The majority of the public looks like they are ready to move past it. What this means for the future career for the man who not only brought us this magnificent film, but other greats like Braveheart and Passion of the Christ, only time will tell.

No matter how you may feel about Mel Gibson the movie is well worth a watch from both a inspirational stand point and (more importantly as this blog is concerned) historical stand point. It is extremely well made, well acted, and has awe inspiring shots and dialogue. So for now, put the kids to bed, butter up some popcorn, and marvel at achievements of a man who had God on his side during a time that almost seemed godless.