In Hacksaw Ridge, which conscientious objector became a U.S. Army medic?

In Hacksaw Ridge, Desmond Doss is the conscientious objector who became a U.S. Army medic.

Doss served during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 and refused to carry a weapon because of his Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. He nevertheless volunteered for military service as a medic, believing that he could help wounded soldiers without taking lives.

The film dramatizes his actions at the Maeda Escarpment, known to American troops as Hacksaw Ridge. According to the historical record, Doss repeatedly entered the combat area under fire and lowered wounded men to safety. The movie, directed by Mel Gibson, stars Andrew Garfield as Doss.

Doss received the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military decoration for valor. He was the first conscientious objector to receive that award. The film takes dramatic liberties with some events, but its central subject and recognition of Doss’s wartime service are historical.