World War II Army Hero to Posthumously Receive Medal of Honor

A humble World War II veteran who died more than 40 years ago is about to be awarded the nation's highest honor.

Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds of Knoxville, Tennessee, whose defiance of German captors in a prisoner of war camp saved the lives of almost 200 Jewish American troops during the war, is posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor. 

"We're thrilled, we're absolutely thrilled. We've been on this journey for 13 years; it's been a long journey but a grateful journey," Chris Edmonds, interim pastor of Oakwood Baptist Church in Knoxville and the son of Sgt. Edmonds, told Military.com.

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor from the nation's military. That is what dad will receive.

A Legendary Story

Born in 1919 in Knoxville, Tenn., Master Sgt. Roderick “Roddie” Edmonds was captured by Nazi forces in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge.

He was imprisoned in a war camp that was used by the Nazis to identify and segregate Jewish soldiers. While being detained, Edmonds was ordered to identify which American soldiers under his command were Jewish. Edmonds defied the Nazis by ordering all his men to stand outside their prison barracks so that none could be singled out.

As the story goes, a German officer pulled a gun on Edmonds and angrily shouted, “They cannot all be Jews!” to which Edmonds replied, “We are all Jews here.”

Edmonds still refused to identify which of the soldiers were Jewish, instead saying, “According to the Geneva Convention, we only have to give our name, rank, and serial number. If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us and, after the war, you will be tried for war crimes.”

That act of bravery is being honored by President Donald Trump, along with a separate effort in the works by congressional lawmakers.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has introduced legislation to posthumously honor Edmonds with the Congressional Gold Medal. U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) has filed a House version of the same bill. Both pieces of legislation are currently stalled on Capitol Hill.

Blackburn remains hopeful.

Roddie Edmonds’ bravery saved the lives of hundreds of Jewish-American soldiers during World War II, and his valor deserves official commendation. We recognize the tremendous courage of my fellow Tennessean who risked his life to protect his fellow countrymen from Nazi atrocities. - Sen. Blackburn to Military.com.
 

Edmonds 'Took It To His Grave'

Edmonds died in 1985 at age 65 without telling his family or anyone else of his brave actions.

"All we knew was that he fought in World War II, in the Battle of the Bulge, and came home," Chris Edmonds said. "He wouldn't talk about it.

"It was God's providence that we found out. He died in 1985 and took it to his grave. First time I heard of this was in 2013."

In 2020, President Trump said he was strongly considering honoring Edmonds with the Medal of Honor. Locally, a historical marker recognizing Edmonds was placed in 2021 in Downtown Knoxville. Last week, the pastor said he received a call from Trump himself announcing the honor.

"He just shared with me the good news about dad," Edmonds said. "He said he was calling while surrounded by the top military leaders in the country and they were all excited about it. It was a great call, and I'm so grateful."

There was another honor bestowed upon Sgt. Edmonds after his death. He was recognized by the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem as “Righteous Among the Nations”—one of only five Americans to receive such an honor.

"He probably wouldn't want to be recognized; he would say it was the right thing to do," said the younger Edmonds. "We've been hoping and praying these honors would happen for a long time."