Among the many acts of bravery in World War II, Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds’ actions in a German POW camp shine as a remarkable example of moral courage. When a Nazi officer demanded that he identify the Jewish American prisoners, Edmonds flatly refused. Standing firm, he declared, “We are all Jews here,” placing himself in grave danger to shield his comrades. His courageous defiance prevented the Germans from singling out and harming the Jewish soldiers in his care, saving countless lives and exemplifying unwavering integrity in the face of mortal risk.
Roddie Edmonds’ early life and enlistment in the US Army
Roddie Edmonds was born on August 20, 1919, in South Knoxville, Tennessee. There isn’t much information about his childhood, but we do know he had three brothers, graduated from Knoxville High School in 1938, and was a member of a local Methodist church.
He joined the U.S. Army about nine months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. At 22 years old, he enlisted at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
Deployed to Europe
As the Second World War raged across Europe and the Pacific, Roddie Edmonds was sent to Europe with the 422nd Infantry Regiment, part of the 106th Infantry Division. Although he held the position of the highest-ranking noncommissioned officer (NCO) in his regiment, he never flaunted his rank.
“He did not throw his rank around,” fellow veteran Lester J. Tanner shared with Yad Vashem. “You knew he knew his stuff, and he got across to you without being arrogant or inconsiderate. I admired him for his command… We were in combat on the front lines for only a short period, but it was clear that Roddie Edmonds was a man of great courage who led his men with the same capacity we had come to know in the States.”
In December 1944, just five days before the Germans launched the Battle of the Bulge, Edmonds arrived in the European Theater. He fought bravely alongside his fellow soldiers in the 106th, but soon found himself surrounded by enemy forces.
Becoming a prisoner of war (POW)
Most of the men serving under Roddie Edmonds found themselves with no real option but to lay down their arms, outmatched by the advancing German forces and unable to escape capture. Although Edmonds held out a little longer, he ultimately conceded to the enemy on December 21, 1944.
After their capture, Edmonds and his unit faced a grueling ordeal as they were transported to Stalag IX-B, a prisoner of war camp near Bad Orb in Germany’s Hesse region. The trip was arduous: they marched about 50 kilometers to Gerolstein before spending seven harrowing days packed tightly into boxcars, with barely any food or water.
Upon arrival at Stalag IX-B, German guards sorted the captives into three groups: enlisted personnel, officers, and noncommissioned officers. As an NCO, Edmonds was soon transferred to Stalag IX-A, located near Ziegenhain, where his leadership and courage would later be put to the ultimate test.
Roddie Edmonds stood up for his Jewish comrades
Roddie Edmonds assumed the role of senior-ranking noncommissioned officer at Stalag IX-A, overseeing the camp’s 1,275 American prisoners of war.
On January 27, 1945, the camp commandant ordered Edmonds to present only the Jewish-American soldiers for roll call the next day, with the intent of segregating them from the rest. Sensing the threat this posed to his Jewish comrades, Edmonds defied the order and instructed all the POWs to gather outside their barracks.
Enraged, the commandant drew a pistol and demanded Edmonds identify the Jewish soldiers, threatening to kill him. Unfazed, Edmonds calmly responded, “We are all Jews,” and reminded the German officer that he would be held accountable for war crimes under the Geneva Convention if any harm befell the men, stating they were only obligated to provide their name, serial number, and rank—not their religion.
Recognizing he had been outwitted, the commandant lowered his weapon. Edmonds’ courageous stand is credited with saving the lives of between 200 and 300 Jewish soldiers.
Surviving the war
After enduring 100 days as a prisoner of war in Germany, Roddie Edmonds returned to the United States but never spoke of his experiences at Stalag IX-B—not even with his own family.
He later served again during the Korean War. Following his military career, Edmonds held positions in mobile home and cable sales and worked for The Knoxville Journal, a local newspaper. He married three times and passed away on August 8, 1985, and was laid to rest at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville, having kept his wartime heroism completely private.
His courageous deeds might have remained unknown if not for his son, Rev. Chris Edmonds, who dedicated himself to ensuring that his father’s remarkable story finally received the recognition it deserved.
Roddie Edmonds was honored by Yad Vashem
After receiving his father’s wartime journals, Chris Edmonds became deeply intrigued by the experiences recorded within. His search for answers led him to contact veterans who had served alongside Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds at Stalag IX-A. Through their testimonies, Chris uncovered the full scope of his father’s defiance and the lives he helped save—revelations that eventually drew the attention of Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial.
In February 2015, Roddie Edmonds was posthumously recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations,” a prestigious honor reserved for non-Jews who risked their lives to protect Jews during the Holocaust. A formal ceremony was held nearly a year later on January 27, 2016—International Holocaust Remembrance Day—at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, where President Barack Obama was in attendance.
Of the 25,000 individuals awarded this title worldwide, Edmonds remains one of only five Americans to receive the distinction—and the sole honoree who was actively serving in the U.S. military during World War II.
Push to award Roddie Edmonds the Congressional Gold Medal
While happy his father was honored by Yad Vashem, Chris is pushing for more recognition from the United States. He’d initially sought for Roddie Edmonds to be awarded the Medal of Honor, but this was denied, as his actions didn’t occur in combat.
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There has since been a push to posthumously award Edmonds with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award handed out by the US Congress. This has had the backing of many, with the Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act being introduced in the House on April 24, 2023.
There has been no notable action since this date.