Eighty years ago today during the Battle of Okinawa, an infantry regiment of the US Army attacked Maeda Escarpment–a long, steep slope at the edge of a 400-ft cliff. It was a brutal battle for both sides. To defend the escarpment,also known as Hacksaw Ridge, the enemy troops hunkered down in a network of caves and dugouts; they were determined to hold the ridge, and their counterattack decimated American platoons. The Americans were ordered to retreat under intense enemy gunfire, artillery, and mortar barrages. Only a third of the soldiers made it back down the cliff.

But one young man, 26-yr-old army medic Desmond Doss, disobeyed the orders to retreat. Instead, he stayed behind on the battlefield to see if there were any of his fellow soldiers laying wounded, scattered across enemy soil—abandoned and left for dead—who he could rescue. As he charged back into the firefight, he found a wounded soldier he could save. He took the soldier back to the edge of the cliff and lowered him safely down to the unit below using an improvised rope sling. He wasn’t finished—there were more men to save and despite exhaustion, dehydration, and the constant threat of enemy fire, he continued his rescue efforts through the night by carrying or dragging wounded soldiers to the edge of the cliff and lowering them to safety.

After each successful rescue, he would be concerned for those still wounded on the battlefield and despite his own injuries, he would pray, “Lord, help me get one more.” Then he would return to locate another. And then another. And another. And another.

For several hours, he relentlessly rescued one man at time until he singlehandedly saved an estimated 75 wounded soldiers. Desmond Doss was motivated by a desire to do all he could to save his friends.¹

We may feel lost and wounded on the battlefield of life.

But there is One who will never retreat until He finds you, wherever you are. He will take you to safety.

And then he will get one more. And then another. And another. And another.

Until He has singlehandedly rescued as many of us that want to be saved.

Remember, “God is in relentless pursuit of you.”²

And He gave His life for this purpose: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).³

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Lead image created by Grok AI

1. see “Desmond Doss: the Real Story“
2. Patrick Kearon, “God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home“, General Conference, April 2024
3. see also “The Shepherd Who Runs” at www.razingtherameumptom.com