WWII Hero Awarded Medal of Honor for Refusing to ID Jewish Americans

Sgt. Roderick Edmonds saved over 200 Jewish-American soldiers from execution at a Nazi POW camp

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously to U.S. Army Master Sgt. Roderick Edmonds of Knoxville, Tennessee, for his heroic actions in saving the lives of over 200 Jewish-American soldiers during World War II. As the senior non-commissioned officer at a Nazi POW camp, Edmonds refused to identify the Jewish soldiers when ordered to do so, stating "We are all Jews here." His brave defiance of the Nazi commandant's demands prevented the execution of his fellow prisoners.

Why it matters

Edmonds' selfless act of courage in the face of imminent danger highlights the importance of standing up against discrimination and injustice, even in the most extreme circumstances. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the moral fortitude required to protect the vulnerable and uphold human dignity during times of war and oppression.

The details

In December 1944, Edmonds' infantry unit was overtaken by the German Army during the Battle of the Bulge. After a brutal four-day death march, the American prisoners were held at Stalag IX-A, a German POW camp. On January 26, 1945, the Nazi commandant ordered only the Jewish-American soldiers to fall out for roll call the next morning, intending to execute them. Edmonds, as the senior NCO, gave a counter-order that all 1,200 American prisoners would stand together. When the furious commandant confronted Edmonds and demanded he identify the Jewish soldiers, Edmonds boldly replied "We are all Jews here," refusing to comply. Faced with Edmonds' unwavering defiance, the commandant lowered his weapon, and Edmonds' actions saved the lives of more than 200 Jewish-American prisoners.

  • On January 26, 1945, the Nazi commandant ordered only the Jewish-American soldiers to fall out for roll call the next morning.
  • On January 27, 1945, all 1,200 American prisoners stood in formation, defying the Nazi commandant's order.
  • The POW camp was liberated two months later in March 1945.

The players

Roderick Edmonds

A U.S. Army Master Sergeant who was the senior non-commissioned officer at the Nazi POW camp Stalag IX-A, and who courageously refused to identify Jewish-American soldiers when ordered to do so, saving over 200 lives.

Nazi Commandant

The German officer who ordered the Jewish-American soldiers to be separated from the other prisoners, intending to execute them, but was defied by Master Sgt. Edmonds.

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What they’re saying

“We are all Jews here.”

— Roderick Edmonds, U.S. Army Master Sergeant (U.S. Army)

What’s next

Edmonds' heroic actions will be commemorated with the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony on March 2, 2026.

The takeaway

Edmonds' courageous stand against the Nazis' discriminatory orders, at great personal risk, exemplifies the moral fortitude required to protect the vulnerable and uphold human dignity even in the darkest of times. His story serves as an enduring inspiration and a testament to the power of principled resistance in the face of evil.