MEDAL OF HONOR

Roderick W. Edmonds was born Aug. 20, 1919, in South Knoxville, Tennessee. Edmonds' mother died before his third birthday, and his father’s sister and her husband raised him. Growing up during the Great Depression, Edmonds attended Flenniken Elementary and Boyd Junior High before graduating from Knoxville High School in 1938, where he excelled in JROTC. After graduation, he worked as a stock clerk in a wallpaper store. In 1941, Edmonds enlisted in the U.S. Army as a communications chief at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

By December 1944, he was a master sergeant and the senior noncommissioned officer in charge of the Regimental Headquarters Company of the 422nd Infantry, 106th Division, arriving in Europe days before the Battle of the Bulge. Edmonds and others were captured by German forces Dec. 19, 1944, and held as prisoners of war at Stalag IX-B in Bad Orb, Germany.

PHOTO: Roddie Edmonds as a child at Flenniken Elementary School in Knoxville, Tenn., 1925-26 — where he served in safety patrol. Photo courtesy of the Edmonds family.

On Jan. 25, 1945, Edmonds and the other noncommissioned officers were transferred to Stalag IX-A in Ziegenhain, Germany. They arrived on Jan. 26, and Edmonds was appointed the senior noncommissioned officer in charge of the American barracks. That evening, the Germans announced that only American prisoners who were also Jewish would fall out for roll call the following morning under threat of execution. Edmonds understood that segregating more than 200 Jewish prisoners of war from the larger group would likely result in their persecution and possible death, so he directed his senior leaders to have all 1,200 American prisoners present themselves for roll call.

The following morning, the Nazi officer became incredulous after realizing that so many Americans were standing in formation. Edmonds said to him, “We are all Jews here,” and reminded the officer about the rights afforded to all prisoners under the Geneva Convention. Enraged, the officer removed his pistol, pressed it hard against Edmonds' forehead between his eyes and demanded that he order all American Jewish prisoners to step forward or he would be shot. Instead of conceding, Edmonds warned the officer that executing him would lead to prosecution for war crimes after the war. The officer lowered his weapon and returned to his office without further attempts to segregate the Jewish prisoners from the larger group.

In March 1945, as Allied Forces were rapidly advancing toward the area, the Germans ordered all prisoners to assemble outside the barracks for evacuation farther east to another camp. Fully intending to undermine his enemy captors, Edmonds ordered all American prisoners into formation in front of the barracks and, when the enemy transports arrived, to break ranks and rush back to their barracks. Without regard for his own life, Edmonds led these prisoners in a relentless pursuit of opposition and resistance, forcing the Germans to abandon the camp, leaving the 1,200 American prisoners behind.

Edmonds returned to the United States in April 1945 and was discharged in October 1945 at Camp Hood, Texas. After a period of civilian employment in Tennessee, he returned to active duty in September 1950 and served in support of combat operations in Korea. He served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in Korea from July 1950 to early 1951.

When he returned to Knoxville, Edmonds married Mary Ann Watson in 1953 and raised two sons, Chris and Mike. He worked in sales and management for the Knoxville Journal, as well as the modular home and cable television industries. He was active in the community, coaching baseball and volunteering at nursing homes and homeless shelters.

Edmonds died Aug. 8, 1985, in Knoxville.

PHOTO, LEFT: Mary Ann and Roddie Edmonds, photographed in the 1970s for the church directory of West Haven Baptist Church, Knoxville. TOP RIGHT: Roddie and Mary Ann Edmonds in the Canary Islands, 1974. BOTTOM RIGHT: Roddie and Mary Ann (Watson) Edmonds in 1953, outside their first home in Knoxville four months after their February wedding, beginning their life together in Tennessee. All photos courtesy of the Edmonds family.

106th Infantry Division

Read Full Unit History

Then-Master Sgt. Roderick “Roddie” W. Edmonds distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the senior non-commissioned officer in charge of more than 1,200 prisoners of war at Stalag IX-A in Ziegenhain, Germany from Jan. 25 to March 30, 1945.

On Dec. 19, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, the Germans captured Edmonds and his unit. They were imprisoned at Stalag IX-B in Bad Orb, Germany on Dec. 25.

A month later, after being starved and abused, the Germans transferred Edmonds and more than 1,200 other non-commissioned officers to Stalag IX-A in Ziegenhain, Germany. With the separation of all officers and enlisted, he became the senior non-commissioned officer in charge of the American barracks.

The day following their arrival, on the evening of Jan. 26, 1945, the German captors announced that only American prisoners who were also Jewish were to fall out during the morning roll call. Individuals failing to comply would be executed.

Realizing his leadership responsibility, Master Sgt. Edmonds understood that any segregation of the more than 200 American Jewish prisoners from the larger group would result in their persecution and death. He ordered that all American prisoners fall out in front of the barracks the following morning.

When morning arrived, all 1,200 American prisoners assembled as planned. The Nazi officer was furious and called Edmonds to the front. The officer once again demanded only prisoners who were Jewish be present. Edmonds boldly held his ground and recounted the rights afforded all prisoners under the Geneva Convention.

PHOTO: Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds of the 106th Infantry Division’s 422nd Infantry Regiment, Headquarters Company, photographed at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, in 1944 prior to the unit’s deployment to Europe. The 106th nickname was The Golden Lion and their motto was: “To make history is our aim.” Photo courtesy of the Edmonds family.

Enraged, the officer pressed his pistol against Edmonds’ forehead and violently demanded that only Jewish Americans step forward or he would be shot immediately. Without regard for his life, Edmonds fearlessly stood his ground and refused, warning the officer executing him would lead to prosecution for war crimes after the war. The officer lowered his weapon and returned to his quarters.

Months later, prior to the arrival of Allied Forces, the German captors announced that all prisoners would be moved further east. Armed with a stolen radio to monitor news reports, Edmonds ordered all the American prisoners not to cooperate. He instructed the American senior leaders to form the men up in front of the barracks and when the transports arrived, he would give the order to break ranks and rush back to the barracks. He repeated these defiant actions for several hours and then ordered all the men to hide or get sick by eating grass or dirt to delay and confuse their captors.

Despite deliberate threats of execution and attacks from vicious dogs, the Nazi officer appeared after several hours and announced that the Americans had won and could have the camp; the Germans and all non-American prisoners were leaving. Twenty-four hours later, American forces from the 3rd Army arrived at the camp.

Edmonds’ actions are a testimony to the spirit of the U.S. Soldier, which were later embodied in the Articles of the Code of the U.S. Fighting Force. Edmonds' selfless acts of extraordinary heroism, gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

PHOTO: A portion of Roddie’s diary, which he kept at Stalag IX-A reads: “A lot of things I am not going to write, because they aren’t exactly nice to talk about. I know God was with us and he answered our prayers. I learned men, even better than before. Some were good, some were bad, some were better and some were worse. Photo courtesy of the Edmonds family.”