Roderick W. Edmonds

RANK: Master Sergeant

CONFLICT/ERA: WORLD WAR II

UNIT/COMMAND: Regimental Headquarters Company, 422nd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division

MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. ARMY

MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: January 27, 1945

MEDAL OF HONOR
ACTION PLACE: POW camp near Ziegenhain, Germany: Stalag IX-A

CITATION:
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 commandant was furious and called Edmonds to the front. The commandant 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.

Enraged, the commandant 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 commandant executing him would lead to prosecution for war crimes after the war. The commandant 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 commandant 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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY: N0

BORN: August 20, 1919 | South Knoxville | Knox County, Tennessee

DIED: August 8, 1985 | Knoxville, Tennessee