Roddie Edmonds, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Roddie Edmonds

American infantryman and POW honored as Righteous Among the Nations

Date of Birth: 20-Aug-1919

Place of Birth: Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Date of Death: 08-Aug-1985

Profession: soldier

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Leo


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About Roddie Edmonds

  • Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds (August 20, 1919 – August 8, 1985) 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 (POW) Camp in Germany, where – at the risk of his life – he prevented an estimated 200 Jews from being singled out from the camp for Nazi persecution and possible death.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 politically sensitive speech by President Barack Obama at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

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