This bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds in recognition of his extraordinary bravery and heroic actions during World War II. Edmonds, a member of the 422nd Infantry Regiment, was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and detained in Stalag IX-A, a German prisoner of war camp. As the senior noncommissioned officer, Edmonds was ordered by Nazi forces to separate Jewish-American soldiers from the general prisoner population. Defying these orders, he commanded all 1,292 men under his charge to step forward, famously stating, "We are all Jews here," when confronted by a German officer. His courageous refusal, even at gunpoint, saved the lives of approximately 200 Jewish-American servicemen. Edmonds survived 100 days in captivity and later served in the National Guard, though he never spoke of his wartime heroism. He was posthumously recognized by Yad Vashem as " Righteous Among the Nations ," the first U.S. Armed Forces member to receive this honor. The Congressional Gold Medal will be presented to his son or next of kin, and the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates.
Conflicts and warsCongressional tributesMilitary historyMilitary personnel and dependents
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act
USA119th CongressHR-921| House
| Updated: 2/4/2025
This bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds in recognition of his extraordinary bravery and heroic actions during World War II. Edmonds, a member of the 422nd Infantry Regiment, was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and detained in Stalag IX-A, a German prisoner of war camp. As the senior noncommissioned officer, Edmonds was ordered by Nazi forces to separate Jewish-American soldiers from the general prisoner population. Defying these orders, he commanded all 1,292 men under his charge to step forward, famously stating, "We are all Jews here," when confronted by a German officer. His courageous refusal, even at gunpoint, saved the lives of approximately 200 Jewish-American servicemen. Edmonds survived 100 days in captivity and later served in the National Guard, though he never spoke of his wartime heroism. He was posthumously recognized by Yad Vashem as " Righteous Among the Nations ," the first U.S. Armed Forces member to receive this honor. The Congressional Gold Medal will be presented to his son or next of kin, and the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates.