Fuller during the Battle of Okinawa in May, 1945.
Randall Fuller (April 7, 1919-) was a U.S. Army Technion Fifth Grade of the 77th Infantry Division. Fuller served with Corporal Desmond Doss during the battle of Guam and Leyte where he too received two bronze stars during World War ll. He also participated in the battle of Okinawa where he received Dosses bible during aftermath of the battle of Hacksaw Ridge.
Biography[]
Randall Fuller was born in Hartford, Connecticut as the second youngest son of a mother who is a math teacher and was a soldier who was killed in World War l. Before the war, he follow in his mother foot steps and worked as high school teacher, he meet and married his girlfriend Molly Anderson before getting drafted in the U.S. Army in 1942.
Meeting Doss[]
Fuller did boot camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina he was giving the nickname of "Teach" and where he befriend Doss before He excels physically but becomes a pariah among his fellow soldiers for refusing to handle a rifle and train on Saturdays. Sergeant Howell and Captain Glover attempt to discharge Doss for psychiatric reasons under Section 8 but are overruled, as Doss's religious beliefs do not constitute mental illness. They subsequently torment Doss by putting him through grueling labor, intending to get Doss to leave of his own accord. Doss saved him from pasting out. Fuller witnessed Doss being beaten one night by his fellow soldiers, he mercifully refuses to identify his attackers and continues training. After hearing Doss was acquitted he was happy for him.
Okinawa[]
Fuller reunites with Doss.
After 3 years of fighting against the Imperial Japanese Army from Guam and Leyte, Fuller was promoted to T/5 and was sent to Okinawa along with Doss and the rest of the 77th Division. As the unit is informed that it will relieve the 96th Infantry Division, which was tasked with ascending and securing the Maeda Escarpment ("Hacksaw Ridge"). During the initial fight, with heavy losses on both sides. Afterward everyone was talking about all the friends they lost during the war and Fuller states that "fathers always buries their sons". The next morning, the Japanese launch a massive counterattack and drive the Americans off the escarpment. Smitty is killed, and Howell and several of Doss's squad mates are left injured on the battlefield. The next morning Captain Jack Glover and Fuller learned that Doss was still on the ridge saving their guys. Later, Doss rescues Howell, and both escape Hacksaw under enemy fire, everyone including Fuller gave him covering fire while Doss managed to climbed down to the escarpment .
Returning the bible[]
On may 24, 1945, they are scheduled to retake the ridge on Saturday but will not launch the next attack without him. Doss agrees, but the operation is delayed until after he concludes his Sabbath prayers. With reinforcements, they turn the tide of battle. In an ambush set by Japanese soldiers who pretend to surrender, Doss manages to save Glover and Fuller and others by deflecting enemy grenades. Doss is wounded by a grenade blast, but the battle is won. Doss also saved a soldier from a Type 97 medium tank Chi-Ha and suffered a left arm fracture from a sniper's bullet. Fuller managed to return his bible from the battlefield. Doss is lowered from the cliff clutching the Bible that Dorothy had given to him.
Later Life[]
After the war, Fuller lost in touch with everyone including Doss, he was still a teacher till he was retired in 1981.