Global InformationRoddie Edmonds information
Righteous Among the Nations Roddie Edmonds | |
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| Birth name | Roderick Waring Edmonds |
| Born | August 20, 1919 South Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | August 8, 1985 (aged 65) Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Buried | Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery (Knoxville, Tennessee) |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Master sergeant |
| Unit | 106th Infantry Division, 422nd Infantry Regiment |
| Conflicts | World War II
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Roderick W. Edmonds (August 20, 1919 – August 8, 1985)[1] was a master sergeant of the 106th Infantry Division, 422nd Infantry Regiment in the United States Army during World War II, who was captured and became the ranking U.S. non-commissioned officer at the Stalag IX-A prisoner-of-war camp in Germany, where—at the risk of his life—he saved an estimated 200–300 Jews from being singled out from the camp for Nazi persecution and possible death.[2][3]
For his defense of Jewish servicemen at the POW camp, Edmonds, a Christian, was awarded the title "Righteous Among the Nations", Israel's highest award for non-Jews who risked their own lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Of 25,000 people to receive the award, Edmonds was the fifth of five Americans, and the only one of the five who was an active serviceman during World War II. His service was the subject of a speech by President Barack Obama at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.[3][4][5][6]
- ^ Liebermann, Oren (December 21, 2015). "'We are all Jews': World War II soldier saved POWs". CNN.
- ^ Bartrop, Paul R. (2017). "Roddie Edmonds". In Bartrop, Paul R.; Dickerman, Michael (eds.). The Holocaust: An Encyclopedia and Document Collection. Vol. 1. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 181 f. ISBN 978-1-4408-4084-5. OCLC 967457463.
- ^ a b Julie Hirschfeld Davis, "Saying 'We Are All Jews,' Obama Honors Americans' Lifesaving Efforts in Holocaust," January 27, 2017, New York Times, retrieved April 12, 2018
- ^ Collins, Michael, USA Today Network, "Knoxville soldier who defied Nazis nominated for Congressional Gold Medal," February 13, 2017, Memphis Commercial Appeal, retrieved April 12, 2018
- ^ Associated Press (Washington, D. C.) "Soldier who defied Nazis nominated for Congressional medal," February 15, 2017, [Florida] Jewish Journal / Sun-Sentinel, retrieved April 12, 2018
- ^ "US Soldier Honored Posthumously For Protecting Jewish POWs In 1945," from "The Two-Way," December 2, 2015, National Public Radio, retrieved April 12, 2018