Honoring Veterans: Army Veteran Roddie Edmonds

Roddie Edmonds was born in South Knoxville, Tennessee, in August 1919. A product of a close-knit family, he graduated from Knoxville High School in 1938 and was deeply rooted in his faith as an active member of the Methodist church in his community. Edmonds was married three times throughout his life, with his final marriage to Mary Ann Watson lasting from 1953 until his death. He had two sons.

At the age of 22, Edmonds enlisted in the Army in 1941, at Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia. Little did he know, this decision would lead him to a pivotal moment in history. In December 1944, Edmonds and his fellow soldiers were deployed to the European Theater of Operations, just days before the Battle of the Bulge—a significant and challenging event in World War II.

During this battle, on Dec. 19, 1944, Edmonds was captured by German forces and became a prisoner of war. Initially interned at Stalag IX-B, he was later transferred to Stalag IX-A. In this dire situation, Edmonds displayed remarkable leadership by becoming the senior noncommissioned officer (NCO) at Stalag IX-A, overseeing the welfare of 1,292 American prisoners of war.

His defining moment came on Jan. 27, 1945, when the camp’s commandant ordered Edmonds to identify Jewish-American soldiers for separate assembly. Edmonds defied this order, declaring, “we are all Jews here,” emphasizing their shared identity as prisoners of war and their adherence to the Geneva Conventions. As the war was almost over, breaking this would mean the German officer being tried for war crimes. He protected the lives of around 300 Jewish-American soldiers, even in the face of a German officer’s pistol.

After enduring 100 days in captivity, Edmonds returned home following World War II. Astonishingly, he kept this story a secret for many years, even from his own family. Despite incredible bravery, he received no official recognition or medals for his actions.

Edmonds continued to serve his country during the Korean War and later pursued diverse career paths in journalism, mobile homes and cable television. His story remained largely hidden until it was finally brought to light by his son Christopher Edmonds.

In 2015, Edmonds received posthumous recognition from Yad Vashem as “Righteous Among the Nations,” becoming the first U.S. soldier and one of only five Americans to receive this honor for saving Jews during the Holocaust. Efforts continue to have him recognized with the Medal of Honor, including a speech given by Former President Obama and a historical marker placed in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2020, as a lasting tribute to his heroism and compassion.

Roddie Edmonds died in August 1985 in Knoxville, Tennessee. His legacy lives on as a symbol of extraordinary courage and unwavering commitment to the welfare of others.

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for Honoring Veterans

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s Honoring Veterans social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Writer: Lara Walker

Editors: Ethan Oleson, Lillian Williams

Researchers: Charmonie Baugh, Jacoryn Whatley

Graphic Designer: Kiki Kelley