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 served in the 106th Infantry Division

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.

As the story goes, a German officer pulled a gun on Edmonds and angrily shouted, “They cannot all be Jews!” to which Edmonds replied, “We are all Jews here.”

Edmonds still refused to identify which of the soldiers were Jewish, instead saying, “According to the Geneva Convention, we only have to give our name, rank, and serial number. If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us and, after the war, you will be tried for war crimes.”

That act of bravery is being honored by President Donald Trump, along with a separate effort in the works by congressional lawmakers.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has introduced legislation to posthumously honor Edmonds with the Congressional Gold Medal. U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) has filed a House version of the same bill. Both pieces of legislation are currently stalled on Capitol Hill.


Blackburn remains hopeful.


Roddie Edmonds’ bravery saved the lives of hundreds of Jewish-American soldiers during World War II, and his valor deserves official commendation. We recognize the tremendous courage of my fellow Tennessean who risked his life to protect his fellow countrymen from Nazi atrocities. - Sen. Blackburn to Military.com.

Edmonds 'Took It To His Grave'
Edmonds died in 1985 at age 65 without telling his family or anyone else of his brave actions.

"All we knew was that he fought in World War II, in the Battle of the Bulge, and came home," Chris Edmonds said. "He wouldn't talk about it.
Source: Military.Com