Summary
Although Andrew Garfield is arguably best known for playing Spider-Man, he also earned a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance as Desmond Doss in the 2016 biographical war film Hacksaw Ridge. Garfield is certainly no stranger to biographical dramas, from The Social Network to, most recently, Tick, Tick... Boom!
Directed by Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge is the true story of a World War II hero Desmond Doss. The film also features Avatar star Sam Worthington and Vince Vaughn in supporting roles. Although it's a true story, many viewers may wonder how historically accurate Hacksaw Ridge is.
Hacksaw Ridge Is the True Story of Desmond Doss
Doss grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, and was forever changed as a child when he nearly killed his brother after a playful brawl turned violent. As a Seventh-day Adventist, Doss vowed never to resort to violence, which made it complicated when he joined the United States Army to fight in World War II. After Doss arrived at basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, he quickly became a target among his fellow soldiers when he refused to carry a weapon. His commanders attempted to have Doss discharged from the military on the grounds of mental illness, but failed.
Due to Doss' refusal to take up arms, many soldiers didn't trust him in the line of duty, because he wouldn't be able to protect them without a weapon. Doss decided to pursue the combat medic route in the 77th Infantry Division, and was called to fight at the Battle of Okinawa at Maeda Escarpment. Also called Hacksaw Ridge, the escarpment included a 350-foot-high ridge that runs across the island and became a deadly area forU.S. soldiers against the Japanese.
Is Hacksaw Ridge Historically Accurate?
After many soldiers retreated, Doss remained on the ridge to locate and treat the wounded. Without ever firing a shot, Doss rope-propelled around 75 men to safety down the steep cliff. He even brought down several wounded Japanese soldiers. For his heroic actions, Doss was awarded two Bronze Star Medals and the Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman. He became the first conscientious objector to accomplish such a feat before two additional conscientious objectors were awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War.
Most of Hacksaw Ridge was real and historically accurate. Even Doss' only child, Desmond Doss Jr., stated the film's accuracy was "remarkable" and stressed how his father turned down previous attempts to adapt his story due to his requirement of getting the details right.
However, several details were changed regarding how Doss met his wife, Dorothy, and a violent fight with his father. Another element altered for the film's sake was the character of Smitty (played by Luke Bracey, who starred in the Australian soap opera Home and Away alongside Thor actor Chris Hemsworth). While Smitty wasn't a real person, he was the embodiment of several soldiers who initially disagreed with Doss's objection to carrying a weapon.
Before Hacksaw Ridge, Doss was the subject of the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector, which featured interviews from Doss, his brother and various fellow former soldiers. Doss revealed he contracted tuberculosis in the Philippines, which caused him to lose a lung and five ribs. Additionally, an overdose of antibiotics also caused him to lose his hearing entirely. Two years after the documentary's release, Doss passed away at 87 years old. He was buried at National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee.