Medal of Honor: Roderick W. "Roddie" Edmonds – World War II – January 27 to March 30, 1945

Name: Roderick W. "Roddie" Edmonds

Rank: Master Sergeant

Branch: United States Army

War: World War II

Unit: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 422nd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division

Date of Action: January 27 – March 30, 1945

Location: Stalag IX-A, Ziegenhain, Germany

Summary of Action

By January 1945, the Battle of the Bulge had become one of the largest and bloodiest battles ever fought by the United States Army. Thousands of American soldiers had been captured during the German offensive and marched to prisoner-of-war camps throughout Germany.

Among them was Master Sergeant Roderick Edmonds of the 106th Infantry Division.

As the senior American noncommissioned officer at Stalag IX-A, Edmonds found himself responsible for approximately 1,200 American prisoners of war.

On the evening of January 26, 1945, the Germans issued an ominous order.

The following morning, all Jewish-American prisoners were to identify themselves during roll call.

Master Sergeant Edmonds immediately understood the gravity of the situation. The Nazi regime had systematically murdered millions of Jews throughout Europe. Jewish-American prisoners separated from their fellow POWs would almost certainly face persecution, forced labor, or death.

Edmonds made his decision without hesitation.

He ordered his senior leaders to ensure that every American prisoner—Jewish and non-Jewish alike—would report for roll call.

The next morning, instead of finding a small group of Jewish soldiers standing before him, the German commandant was confronted by approximately 1,200 American prisoners standing shoulder to shoulder.

Enraged by the act of defiance, the commandant demanded that Edmonds identify the Jewish prisoners.

Edmonds calmly refused.

The German officer drew his pistol, pressed it firmly against Edmonds' forehead, and threatened to shoot him if he did not comply.

Knowing that his next words could cost him his life, Master Sergeant Edmonds remained steadfast.

He informed the German commandant that under the Geneva Convention, American prisoners of war were required to provide only their name, rank, and serial number. He further warned the German officer that if he shot him or executed any of the prisoners, he would one day be prosecuted for war crimes.

For a tense moment, the fate of hundreds of men hung in the balance.

Finally, the commandant lowered his pistol, turned around, and walked away.

Not a single Jewish-American prisoner was separated from his fellow soldiers.

But Edmonds' courage did not end there.

Weeks later, in March 1945, with Allied forces rapidly advancing into Germany, the Germans ordered the evacuation of the prisoner-of-war camp.

Recognizing an opportunity to resist his captors and prevent another forced march farther into enemy territory, Master Sergeant Edmonds devised a plan.

He instructed the American prisoners to assemble as ordered but, when the transport vehicles arrived, to break formation and rush back into their barracks.

The plan worked.

Faced with mass resistance and advancing Allied forces, the Germans abandoned the camp and left the American prisoners behind.

On March 30, 1945, soldiers of General George Patton's Third Army liberated Stalag IX-A and its 1,200 American prisoners.

The lives saved by Master Sergeant Edmonds' courage are impossible to fully measure. More than 200 Jewish-American prisoners owed their survival directly to his refusal to surrender them to the Nazis.

His actions stand as one of the most extraordinary examples of moral courage in American military history.

Medal of Honor Citation

RODERICK W. "RODDIE" EDMONDS

Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, United States Army.

Unit: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 422nd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Ziegenhain, Germany, January 27 to March 30, 1945.

Citation:

Master Sergeant Roderick W. Edmonds distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty from January 27, 1945, to March 30, 1945, as a prisoner of war in Germany, while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 422nd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division.

Upon arrival at Stalag IX-A in Ziegenhain, Germany, he was soon put to the test as Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. On the evening of January 26, 1945, the Germans announced that only Jewish-American prisoners would fall out for roll call the following morning, at the threat of execution.

Master Sergeant Edmonds quickly understood that segregating more than 200 Jewish-American prisoners of war would likely result in their persecution and possible death, so he directed his senior leaders to have all 1,200 American prisoners present themselves for roll call.

The following morning, the Nazi Commandant became incredulous after realizing that so many Americans were standing in formation. Master Sergeant Edmonds bravely resisted his fury, while also recounting the rights afforded to all prisoners under the Geneva Convention.

Still enraged, the Commandant removed his pistol, pressed it hard against Master Sergeant Edmonds' forehead between his eyes and demanded that he order all Jewish-American prisoners to step forward, or he would be shot.

With unwavering courage at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, Master Sergeant Edmonds fearlessly held his ground, refusing to concede and verbally warned the Commandant that if he executed him, he would be prosecuted for war crimes once the war was over.

Finally, the Commandant, visibly reddened with anger, lowered his weapon and returned to his office without further attempts to segregate the Jewish-American prisoners.

Master Sergeant Edmonds' actions inspired his fellow prisoners of war.

Several weeks later, in March 1945, as Allied forces were rapidly advancing toward the area, the Germans ordered all prisoners to assemble outside the barracks for evacuation farther east to another camp. Fully intending to undermine his enemy captors, Master Sergeant Edmonds ordered all American prisoners to form in front of the barracks and, when the enemy transports arrived, they would break ranks and rush back to their barracks.

Without regard for his own life, Master Sergeant Edmonds gallantly led these prisoners in a relentless pursuit of opposition and resistance, forcing the Germans to abandon the camp leaving the 1,200 American prisoners behind.

The full extent of his bravery, unbending will, and courageous leadership would be realized when soldiers from the Third U.S. Army liberated the camp on March 30, 1945.

Master Sergeant Edmonds' conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.