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

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.