WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to the son of Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, a World War II soldier credited with saving the lives of hundreds of Jewish-American prisoners of war during the Battle of the Bulge.
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During a White House ceremony, Trump recounted Edmonds’ actions in January 1945 after he was captured with his unit from the 106th Infantry Division and held in a German POW camp.
As the senior non-commissioned officer among the American prisoners, Edmonds was ordered by a German commandant to have only Jewish-American soldiers step forward for identification. Fearing they would face execution or severe mistreatment, Edmonds instead instructed all approximately 1,200 American POWs under his authority to stand together.
When the German officer confronted him and said the prisoners could not all be Jewish, Edmonds replied, “We are all Jews here,” according to historical accounts.
.@POTUS presents the Congressional Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Master Sergeant Roderick W. Edmonds, posthumously — accepted on his behalf by his son, Chris. pic.twitter.com/JghfrPZ2jy
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 2, 2026
The officer reportedly drew his pistol and threatened to shoot Edmonds if he did not identify the Jewish soldiers. Edmonds refused, and the Germans ultimately backed down. The Jewish POWs were not separated.
Historians credit Edmonds’ defiance with saving the lives of an estimated 200 to 300 Jewish-American service members.
Trump called Edmonds’ actions an example of extraordinary courage and unity, saying the story reflects “the very best of America.”
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor.
While awarding the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously, our President just told a magnificent story.
In late December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds (then 25, from Knoxville, Tennessee, a devout Methodist and non-Jewish Christian) was… pic.twitter.com/VY8QPbRJwh
— Dov Hikind (@HikindDov) March 2, 2026