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Feature: Adventists in the Military

Story by Edwin Manuel Garcia

Before he saved dozens of wounded soldiers on the front lines during World War II, which earned him a Medal of Honor, Seventh-day Adventist combat medic Desmond Doss (pictured below with President Harry Truman) was called a misfit for refusing to carry a weapon, and commanders ostracized him for observing the Sabbath.

Life wasn’t easy for Doss and other Adventists in the U.S. armed forces.

But 70 years later, the military has become a more welcoming institution for Adventists, according to active and retired military personnel within the Columbia Union. This is a marked change from when Doss enlisted as a noncombatant with conscientious objector status.

Desmond Doss: Serving God and Country

Story by the Desmond Doss Council

On April 1, 1942, Desmond Doss joined the United States Army. Little did he realize that three and a half years later, he would be standing on the White House lawn, receiving the nation’s highest award for his bravery and courage under fire.

Of the 16 million men in uniform during World War II, only 431 received the Congressional Medal of Honor. One of these was placed around the neck of a young Seventh-day Adventist Christian, who during combat had not killed a single enemy soldier. In fact, he refused to carry a gun. His only weapons were his Bible and his faith in God.

Try These Healthy Holiday Recipes

Thanksgiving and Christmas meals don't have to be full of fat and sugar. Try these healthy, hearty vegetarian recipes from chef Clara Iuliano, first published in the 2012 Visitor calendar.

Nutty Harvest Loaf

2 c chopped onions

3 c chopped celery

1 lb extra firm, water-packed tofu

½ c reduced fat mayonnaise or Nayonaise

¼ c reduced sodium soy sauce

1 ½ tsp sage

1 tsp onion powder

4 ½ c organic herb stuffing (e.g., Arrowhead Mills)

2/3 c chopped walnuts

2/3 c chopped pecans

First cold-press extra virgin olive oil for sautéing

Where to get "Desmond Doss" Resources

Want to use the buzz around the movie "Hacksaw Ridge" as a way to share more about Desmond Doss' life and faith with your friends? We've gathered a couple resources below:

Blue Mountain Academy STEM Team Awarded Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam™ Grant for Invention

Story by Tamyra Horst
 
The STEM team from Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) in Hamburg, Pa., has been awarded the Lemelson-MIT InventTeam grant and is receiving $10,000 in grant funding for their LighTelligence invention, a system to optimize the circadian rhythms of young people using light. Anthony Perry, invention education associate from Lemelson-MIT, made the announcement at a special assembly at the school October 25.
 

New Staff Joins Visitor Team

Story by Visitor Staff

Ricardo Bacchus (pictured) joined the Visitor staff this week. Bacchus will serve as assistant director of the Columbia Union Conference Communication Department and assistant Visitor editor, coordinating and editing the conference and academy newsletters in each issue. He previously worked at the General Conference, helping to coordinate and edit Elder’s Digest and Collegiate Quarterly.