Every year on October 2, the world observes the International Day of Non-Violence, established by the UN to honor the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader who advocated for peaceful resistance as a way to transform the world. This day is a reminder that peace is not the same as passivity.

In this context, the story of Desmond T. Doss—a humble Seventh-day Adventist who refused to carry a weapon during World War II—stands as a living proof that non-violence is not weakness, but the highest form of courage.

Born in 1919 in Virginia, Doss grew up in a home shaped by faith and a clear conviction: to obey God rather than men. When war broke out, he chose to serve his country without compromising his conscience. He enlisted as a combat medic, enduring ridicule, humiliation, and rejection from both his comrades and superiors. Many considered him a coward for refusing to bear arms. Time, however, would prove his courage far greater than that of those who mocked him.

His defining moment came in 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest clashes in the Pacific. There, Doss faced a superhuman challenge: as bullets flew and explosions shook the battlefield, he decided to stay on the front to rescue the wounded who had been left behind. With nothing but a rope and unshakeable faith, he lowered one soldier after another down a 100-foot cliff, whispering the same prayer each time: “Lord, help me save one more.”

In one night alone, he is credited with saving at least 75 men, including some comrades who had once despised him. His heroism earned him the United States Congressional Medal of Honor, making him the first conscientious objector to be awarded the nation’s highest military decoration. Yet beyond the medals, what made him a true hero was his conviction that life is a divine gift, and his willingness to risk his own to protect others.

The story of Desmond Doss reminds us that even in a world scarred by violence, intolerance, and war, it is always possible to choose the path of peace.