For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10 (NASB)
One of the greatest war heroes in American history never fired a bullet!
Private Desmond Doss walked into the bloodiest battle of World War II’s Pacific theater with nothing to protect himself except his Bible and his faith in God. A devout Seventh Day Adventist and conscientious objector, Doss enlisted as a medic and refused to carry a rifle.
The fighting took place on the hellish Maeda Escarpment in April 1945. The battlefield, located on top of a sheer 350-foot cliff, was fortified with a deadly network of Japanese machine gun nests and booby traps. The escarpment, nicknamed Hacksaw Ridge for the treacherously steep cliff, was key to winning the battle of Okinawa. The mission was thought to be near-impossible, and when Doss’s battalion was ordered to retreat, the medic refused to leave his fallen comrades behind.
Facing heavy machine gun and artillery fire, Doss repeatedly ran alone into the kill zone, carrying wounded soldiers to the edge of the cliff and singlehandedly lowering them down to safety. Each time he saved a man’s life, Doss prayed out loud, “Lord, please help me get one more.” Eventually he spent 12 hours up on the ridge rescuing an estimated 75 men from death or capture at the hands of the Japanese, averaging one man every 10 minutes. —Medal of Honor: Oral Histories.
As Doss approached each man, he said, “I’ve got you!” Imagine the wonder, the delight, the amazement, the incredible relief that coursed through each man’s veins as he marveled at his salvation amid horrible devastation and certain death.
Lord, let me never take my salvation for granted! You rescued me and tenderly whispered, “I’ve got you!” as You carried me to safety. My heart soars with wonder, lightening courses through my veins. I am fully alive and I will praise You for the rest of my days!