Desmond, at a young age, learns the seriousness and consequences of violence because he accidentally hit his brother over the head with a brick, an accident that could have killed him. Also, Desmond’s father’s war experience influenced him to view war and violence negatively; so negatively that both brothers were terrified to tell their father they had enlisted. This also influenced the boys, especially Desmond to not partake in violence. His father’s influence was so powerful that it also indirectly affected many, many more lives through Desmond. After Desmond finds the courage to tell his father he has enlisted, he says to his father, “I can’t stay here while all the other people are fighting for me.”, showing that he had a reason for wanting to enlist, not to just cause more violence, but a job that he felt led to do. A true leader is compelled, driven, and guided by their will to make a change, to make a difference, and/or to get the job done. In training for battle, Desmond told his commanding officer, Captain Glover, that he will not touch a rifle, however, he still wants to be a soldier. This absurd request was Desmond making his own path in the world and building a bridge between his beliefs …show more content…
Desmond also shows that the toughest person to lead is yourself. He had fought the internal moral battle saying to his fiancée, I don’t know how I can live with myself if I don’t stay true to what I believe.” Desmond’s reasoning for enlisting in the army was to be a medic, saving lives. He wanted to serve, and all great leaders are servants. He also thinks differently than the other soldiers, counterintuitive. While begging in army court, Desmond says, “While everyone else will be taking life, I’ll be saving it.” He continues to say, “With the world set on tearing itself apart, it don’t seem like such a bad thing to me to put a little bit of it back together.” He shows that successful leaders bring about solutions. As he entered the battlefield as a medic, the regiment’s biggest challenge would be taking Hacksaw Ridge because if they could seize control of the ridge then they could seize Okinawa. The leaders of the regiment would go first up the ropes and into battle to set the example. All of the brave leaders and soldiers ran into battle guns blazing and friends dropping beside them; however, they were ready to protect their men and country by