Medal of Honor for saving WWII Jewish POWs

US Army Master Sgt. Roderick (“Roddie”) Edmonds, who saved roughly 200 Jewish American soldiers from certain death during World War II and is the only US soldier recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the “Righteous Among the Nations,” was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony on Monday.

Edmonds’ son, Pastor Chris Edmonds, accepted the medal on his father’s behalf from President Donald Trump, who said, “Today, your father gets the honor he so courageously merited.”

“He was always a great father,” Chris Edmonds told JNS. “Everybody loved him, and he loved everybody.”

The elder Edmonds was among the more than 1,200 American troops captured during the Battle of the Bulge and sent to Stalag IX-A, a German prisoner of war camp, in January 1945.

On the evening of Jan. 26, 1945, the Germans ordered that only Jewish American prisoners report for roll call the next morning.

As the senior non-commissioned officer, Edmonds was aware of the danger facing those soldiers. He ordered every American POW to report for roll call, helping conceal the identity of the 200-plus Jewish prisoners. He cited the Geneva Convention, which required him to disclose only names, ranks and serial numbers.

Edmonds refused to back down even when the commandant pressed his gun against his head and demanded he give up the Jewish service members.

“We are all Jews here,” Edmonds replied. The Nazi officer eventually lowered his weapon and returned to his office.

In March 1945, as Allied forces approached, the camp commandant ordered the prisoners to assemble for evacuation. Once they were outside and with transports arriving, Edmonds led the men back into the barracks, ensuring they remained behind and out of German hands.

“Really amazing,” Trump said. “It’s an amazing story.”

“When the Nazi commander approached and threatened Dad, Lester was there,” Edmonds said.

Nineteen members of Edmonds’ family traveled to Washington and met Trump before the ceremony.

Edmonds was recognized by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem in February 2015 as one of the “Righteous Among the Nations,” non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. He was only the fifth American and first US soldier so honored.

Stanlee Stahl, executive vice president of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, attended the ceremony and stated that the award “affirms what the survivors of Stalag IX-A have long known: his actions represent the highest standard of bravery, humanity and responsibility.”

On Tuesday, Edmonds was also set to be inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon.

Reflecting on Monday’s ceremony, Chris Edmonds told JNS his father would have been humbled.

“He would certainly feel greatly honored, but he would say, ‘I’m not a hero. I was just doing my job, and I came home safe and I lived a full, meaningful life. So, the boys that are the real heroes are the ones that were buried over there that helped save me,’” he said.

“That would be his thoughts on it, and largely I would agree with him, because the men who have given their full measure of sacrifice are truly the heroes,” Edmonds said. “The Medal of Honor is even bigger than Dad or even the men and ladies who have received it over the years. He really speaks to the American heart and the character of our nation, people who have the courage to go to the greatest degree to help save others.”