A humble World War II veteran who died more than 40 years ago is about to be awarded the nation's highest honor.
Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds of Knoxville, Tennessee, whose defiance of German captors in a prisoner of war camp saved the lives of almost 200 Jewish American troops during the war, is posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor.
"We're thrilled, we're absolutely thrilled. We've been on this journey for 13 years; it's been a long journey but a grateful journey," Chris Edmonds, interim pastor of Oakwood Baptist Church in Knoxville and the son of Sgt. Edmonds, told Military.com
A Legendary Story
Born in 1919 in Knoxville, Tenn., Master Sgt. Roderick “Roddie” Edmonds was captured by Nazi forces in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge.
He was imprisoned in a war camp that was used by the Nazis to identify and segregate Jewish soldiers. While being detained, Edmonds was ordered to identify which American soldiers under his command were Jewish. Edmonds defied the Nazis by ordering all his men to stand outside their prison barracks so that none could be singled out.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member