Department of Historic Resources (www.dhr.virginia.gov) For Immediate Release June 30, 2017 Contact: Randy Jones Department of Historic Resources 540.578-3031 (cell) [email protected].

STATE HISTORICAL HIGHWAY MARKER “DESMOND THOMAS DOSS (1919-2006)” TO BE DEDICATED IN LYNCHBURG

—Doss, a Lynchburg native, was the first to receive the for heroic actions during World War II on Okinawa—

—2016 movie is based on his exploits during WW II—

—The marker text is reproduced below—

RICHMOND – A state historical marker issued by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources honoring Desmond Thomas Doss, the first conscientious objector to receive a Medal of Honor, will be dedicated early this coming week in Lynchburg, during one of two public ceremonies planned to celebrate Doss, a native of the city.

The dedication ceremony for the state historical marker begins at 11 a.m., Monday, July 3, at the marker’s location at the intersection of Mosby Street and Campbell Avenue.

Speakers during the ceremony will include Doss’s son Desmond Doss Jr.; Lynchburg Mayor Joan Foster; military veterans Joseph Seiffert, Steve Bozeman, and David Stokes; and Erin B. Ashwell, a member of the Virginia Board of Historic Resources.

Doss was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and a pacifist when he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. He “refused to bear arms,” the marker reads, and “considered himself a ‘conscientious cooperator.’”

Serving as a medic with the 77th Infantry Division in Okinawa in the spring of 1945, “On 5 May,” the marker states, “under intense fire, he saved about 75 wounded men by lowering each one down a cliff.” Badly wounded later that same month, Doss “gave up his place on a litter to another soldier,” and for his actions, “In Oct. 1945 Doss became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor,” the marker concludes.

The City of Lynchburg also plans another commemorative ceremony for Doss on Monday, at 1 p.m., at Monument Terrace in downtown Lynchburg. Doss’s son is also expected to attend that ceremony as well.

The state historical highway marker honoring Doss was approved for manufacture earlier this year by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources, which is authorized to approve new markers. The cost of the sign has been covered by its sponsor, the Military Order of the – Chapter 1607.

Virginia’s historical highway marker program, which began in 1927 with the installation of the first historical markers along U.S. Route 1, is considered the oldest such program in the nation. Currently there are more than 2,500 official state markers, most maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, as well as by local partners in jurisdictions outside of VDOT’s authority such as Lynchburg.

Text of marker: Desmond Thomas Doss (1919-2006)

Lynchburg native Desmond T. Doss grew up nearby in the Fairview Heights neighborhood. A member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and a pacifist, Doss was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II but refused to bear arms. Though officially labeled a conscientious objector, he considered himself a “conscientious cooperator.” Doss served as a medic with the 77th Infantry Division on Okinawa in the spring of 1945. On 5 May, under intense fire, he saved about 75 wounded men by lowering each one down a cliff. Later in May he was badly wounded but gave up his place on a litter to another soldier. In Oct. 1945 Doss became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor.

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