Soldier who shielded Jewish POWs from guards will recieve Medal of Honor

Roddie Edmonds never spoke about his time in a German prisoner of war camp. This week, his family learned he’ll soon receive the nation’s highest valor award for an act of heroism in which he never fired a shot.

A master sergeant thrust into command of 1,200 POWs in a German camp, Edmonds will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, his family confirmed to Task & Purpose. The award honors a moment, not of direct combat action, but of Edmonds’ refusal to identify Jewish soldiers in the camp, instead daring a German commander to execute him.

Ordered by the camp commander to hand over the Jewish soldiers under his command, Edmonds instead called a full formation of American prisoners and declared, “We are all Jews.”

The German major pulled his Luger pistol and held it to Edmonds’ head, threatening to shoot him on the spot if he did not call the Jewish troops forward.

Edmonds held his ground.

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/roddie-edmonds-medal-of-honor/

https://www.knoxcountylibrary.org/library-news/dd-214-veteran-story-roderick-waring-edmonds