The ending of World War II story, yet some questions linger after the credits roll. Hacksaw Ridge was directed by Mel Gibson and stars Andrew Garfield as combat medic Desmond Doss. Large parts of the film's first half focus on Doss' earlier life, from the courting of his wife Dorothy to his troubled upbringing alongside his brother, mother, and father, who is a WWI veteran with PTSD. Throughout the early parts of Desmond's life, the major themes of the story are laid out, those being Desmond's religious beliefs and vow not to take a life of any kind.

This setup makes his enrollment into the U.S. Army for World War II all the more impactful as his difficulties getting to the front line as a conscientious objector are detailed. Eventually, Desmond Doss finds himself at Hacksaw Ridge during the Battle of Okinawa, with the film's ending solidifying Doss' story as a heartwarming tale of bravery, heroism, and perseverance that still leaves some questions in the mind after Hacksaw Ridge's ending.

What Happens In Hacksaw Ridge’s Ending

Desmond Doss Stays Behind To Save Lives

The true story of Desmond Doss and Hacksaw Ridge ends with the second and third major skirmishes surrounding the titular location in WWII. Earlier in the film, a battle sequence was shown with the American soldiers taking Hacksaw Ridge up to a point from the Japanese. After that, the Japanese launched a counter-offensive, which forced the Americans back down the Ridge, all aside from Doss. Hacksaw Ridge's ending therefore includes this massacre by the Japanese Army, Doss' dedication to staying atop the Ridge alone to save the lives of wounded men, and the ensuing offensive by the U.S. military, who took Hacksaw once and for all.

The crux of Desmond's story in Hacksaw Ridge's ending surrounds his incredible decision to stay on Hacksaw through the night, in the midst of an American artillery strike and probing Japanese soldiers, in order to save the lives of the wounded that were injured during the battle the previous day. Doss manages to save life after life, rescuing 75 soldiers — including some Japanese — who were considered dead. In Hacksaw Ridge's ending, Desmond's knowledge of the tunnels the Japanese soldiers had been using allows a counter-attack that wins the battle and directly contributes to the end of the invasion of Japan.

What Happened To Desmond Doss After The Battle Of Okinawa

He Received The Medal Of Honor And Married Dorothy

At the end of Hacksaw Ridge, the film outlines what happened to Desmond after the end of the war. After saving the 75 men alone above Hacksaw Ridge and the ensuing American assault, Desmond was injured by a grenade. Hacksaw Ridge's ending shot shows Doss being lowered from Hacksaw with his Bible that Dorothy gave him earlier in the film in hand. It is explained that Doss was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman after World War II ended and eventually got to marry Dorothy after his stint in a military prison did not allow this during the film's story.

Desmond lived with Dorothy back home in the United States until she ed away in 1991. He himself lived until 2006, when he tragically ed away after being hospitalized for having difficulty breathing. Hacksaw Ridge ends with clips from the real Desmond Doss, recounting his experiences at the titular battleground.

Why The Battle Of Hacksaw Ridge Ended The Invasion Of Japan

Multiple Battles Were Going On In Okinawa

One thing that Hacksaw Ridge's ending does not make entirely clear is why the battle ended the Allied invasion of Japan. The reason is that Hacksaw Ridge was simply part of the larger Battle of Okinawa. While the battle of Hacksaw Ridge was ongoing, the northern side of Okinawa was being invaded. Simultaneously, a huge naval battle was ongoing, with all three leading to an Allied victory in Japan. This was the last major battle of the Pacific in World War II before the atomic bombs were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, which forced the surrender of the Japanese Army.

While the battle of Hacksaw Ridge was ongoing, the northern side of Okinawa was being invaded.

The capture of Hacksaw Ridge was instrumental in the larger Battle of Okinawa being won. In doing so, the Allied forces had a foothold for the planned invasion of mainland Japan. However, the development of the atomic bomb led to the surrender of Japan, meaning the war ended only a few months after the successful capture of Hacksaw Ridge.

Did Desmond Actually Kick A Grenade?

Multiple People Witnessed This Feat In The Actual Battle

One of the more somewhat unbelievable aspects of Hacksaw Ridge's ending comes as Desmond Doss kicks a grenade away from his men after swatting one out of the air. Despite this suspension of disbelief, this actually happened in real life. As explored by History vs. Hollywood, multiple people witnessed Doss kicking a grenade away from his comrades. The explosion of the grenade led to Doss's injury, with shrapnel being embedded in his leg. Regardless, the incredible feat is one of the moments of true accuracy in Hacksaw Ridge's ending.

Why The Japanese Commander Killed Himself

It Is A Traditional Samurai Ritual

Another unexplained element of Hacksaw Ridge's ending is the suicide of the Japanese commander, with the answer stemming from ancient Japanese culture. The suicide of a commander at the end of a losing battle comes from the Japanese ritual of Seppuku. Seppuku began with the ancient Samurai of Japan as a ritualistic means of death, meant to bring honor to the soldier rather than fall into the hands of the enemy. This ritual was used by many in World War II as a means of providing the commanders and their families with honor in the face of defeat.

Why Desmond’s Men Waited For Him To Pray

They Respected Him For Maintaining His Beliefs And Saving Soldiers During The Night

Undoubtedly, one of the more heartwarming aspects of Hacksaw Ridge's ending was the men of Desmond's platoon waiting for him to pray before taking Hacksaw Ridge. The reason for this comes from Desmond's religious beliefs. Desmond was raised as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, meaning he partakes in the Sabbath, which is the seventh day of rest, meaning a day is set aside for prayer and rest in the name of God. One of Doss' more criticized beliefs during wartime was that he wished to uphold his Sabbath and set aside a day for rest and prayer even during the war.

By the end of the film, though, the men who criticized and mocked Desmond for this upheld this belief, stayed with him. After seeing what Desmond did the night before on Hacksaw Ridge, the men stall the attack on Hacksaw Ridge in honor of Desmond's Sabbath. The squad waits for Desmond to pray before the attack begins, something that also happened in real life.

What Hacksaw Ridge’s Ending Changed About Desmond’s Real Life

Only A Few Things About His Life After The Battle Are Changed

While the film makes a few outright changes to Desmond Doss' true story, Hacksaw Ridge's ending also omits some details. Firstly, the film only mentions that Desmond was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service when Desmond was actually decorated more than once. In reality, Desmond also received the Purple Heart for his injuries in the Battle of Okinawa and the Bronze Star Medal for his service. Secondly, the film mentions Dorothy's death in 1991 yet does not mention that Desmond remarried two years later, or that he had a child with Dorothy.

Some other smaller details from Desmond's post-war life are that he suffered from tuberculosis, which led to one of his lungs collapsing. Desmond was also referred to regularly by the nickname "Wonderman of Okinawa" for his miracle-like conduct at Hacksaw Ridge. As such, Hacksaw Ridge's ending does not change too much about Desmond's real life, more so leaving aspects out for the sake of a tighter dramatic narrative.

The Real Meaning Of Hacksaw Ridge's Ending

Explores The Power Of Belief In Oneself And Something More

The real meaning of Hacksaw Ridge's ending is simply to never judge someone based on their beliefs. Throughout the entirety of Hacksaw Ridge, Desmond is ridiculed, bullied, mocked, and disregarded for his unwillingness to take a life and bear arms. This leads to him being labeled as a coward by every man he served with, before proving to be braver and more courageous than anyone ever thought. This bravery all comes from Desmond's beliefs and his willingness to save lives rather than take them.

This makes Hacksaw Ridge's ending much more emotionally profound, with the exploration of these lofty themes making the real story of Desmond Doss seem more like fiction than fact. However, much of the story of the film is based on reality, with the true meaning of the film's ending resonating on an unprecedented level. From the themes of love, religion, belief, and war that the film tackles, Hacksaw Ridge's ending teaches us not to judge someone based on their beliefs, with those beliefs being what spurred Desmond Doss to become a true hero of WWII.

How Hacksaw Ridge's Ending Was Received

The Film And Its Ending Were A Powerful Hit With Audiences

Given the immense brutality of Mel Gibson's choice to depict the violence of war in Hacksaw Ridge, it could have turned away a lot of the audience, but the film was an emotionally powerful experience that was incredibly well-received by both critics and audiences alike, with massive recognition for the immense talent of Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss, doing justice the man at the center of the story.

Hacksaw Ridge received six Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Mel Gibson), Best Actor (Andrew Garfield), Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing, winning for Film Editing and Sound Mixing.

On top of the entire film being strong from start to finish, the ending scenes of Hacksaw Ridge are largely considered some of the strongest moments in the entire movie, as Desmond Doss' beliefs and choices throughout all crescendo into his ultimately inspiring act of heroism in choosing to save as many lives as he possibly could. The ending nails the entire thesis of the entire film, and audiences responded well in kind, making Hacksaw Ridge one of 2016's best films.