Desmond Doss Movie Talking Points

[Gregory Matthews]

See:

http://www.nadadventist.org/article/1073743332/news/current-and-archived-news-stories/2016-news-current-archives/9-26-16-hacksaw-ridge-talking-points-guide-for-church-members

[Stan]

am doing co-ordingating for private screens in Canada this week for Adventist thought leaders in Canada.

 

What a BUZZ!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119532/trivia?item=tr2648761

[Gregory Matthews]

Thank you Stan, for the above website.  However, I do believe that it contains some information that is either false or subject to misunderstanding.

Case in  point:  In an added comment we are told that Doss was recommended for two awards of the Medal of Honor, but t hat he humbly refused the second.  In actual fact, it is Congress that decides who should receive a Medal of Honor.  Doss did not have the power to prevent that.  Further,  at the time that President Truman presented the award of the Medal of Honor to Doss in 1945, Doss was still on active duty in the U.S. Army.  He did not have the option to refuse to attend the ceremony.  To have done so could have resulted in punishment under the UCMJ for refusal to obey a lawful order.

There are some interesting issues around the statement that that Doss was recommended to receive two awards of the Medal of Honor.   The Medal of Honor is a formal award that belongs to the U. S. Congress. Congress has passed a law that prohibits a 2nd award of the Medal of Honor.  However, prior to that law, some 19 people did receive a 2nd award of the Medal of Honor. 

The circumstances of those 19 are confusing to some people.  For more on this, see:

http://homeofheroes.com/moh/history/history_double.html

[Gregory Matthews]

Stan's referenced website contains an second item of information that is subject to misunderstanding:

Sgt. York did receive a Medal of Honor for action in  WW I.

At one time, he had been a conscientious objector.  But, he gave that up and became a combatant.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor for combatant action. 

Alvin Cullum York, known also by his rank, Sergeant York, was one of the most decorated soldiers of the United States Army in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 35 machine guns, killing at least 28 German soldiers, and capturing 132 others.