Hacksaw Ridge hero saves life of Broseley man at Battle of Okinawa

The Poplar Bluff Museum has tales of us, our family, and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.
During the battle of Okinawa, Army medic Desmond Doss earned the Medal of Honor on Hacksaw Ridge when he rescued 75 wounded soldiers from certain death. The movie of the same name was later made telling his story.
Did you know there’s a Butler County story on Hacksaw Ridge? Fred Carr from Broseley was there. In fact, he was one of the many wounded soldiers that Desmond Doss dragged off the ridge.
On April 1, 1945, six divisions of soldiers and marines hit the beach on Okinawa. It was the largest amphibious invasion ever, bigger than D-Day. The U.S. forces swept through the island until they hit the Shuri (Hacksaw) Ridge.
Fred Carr was with the 77th Infantry Division when they captured ridge. A Japanese counter-attack soon drove them off. Carr was wounded during the fight and couldn’t retreat. As the Japanese resumed their positions, they began killing all the wounded Americans. During the night, Desmond Doss rescued Carr, saving his life.
Doss and Carr reunited 10 years later on the TV show “This Is Your Life.” Carr was a guest speaker honoring his friend Doss. Fred Carr never spoke of the war. He was most remembered in Broseley as the friendly school bus driver. His neighbors never knew.
During the battle of Okinawa, Jim Hogg from Poplar Bluff was offshore on the aircraft carrier USS Bennington. Bill Hicks from Poplar Bluff was also there on the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. When a Japanese bomb struck the USS Wasp, Hicks was killed along with 200 other sailors.
Fred Carr’s photo is on display in the Hall of Heroes. Bill Hogg’s leather flight jacket and Bill Hicks naval uniform can also be seen in the Hall of Heroes. These exhibits are on display in the Kanell Hall Veterans Museum located in the Poplar Bluff Museum. The museum is open every Sunday free of charge from 1- 4 p.m. at 1010 Main St., Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!
Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.