By Jerry Klinger in Boynton Beach, Florida
MSG Edmonds was an American POW captured during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. He was sent to a northern German POW camp with ~1275 other captured American soldiers. Edmonds was the highest-ranking Non-Com Officer in the camp.
In January 1945, the Nazi Commandant of the camp ordered Edmonds to have all of the Jewish POWs report to the assembly grounds the next morning at 6 a.m. The next morning, the Commandant was surprised and angered.
Edmonds had the entire 1275 men assembled on the grounds.
The Nazi Major, outraged, screamed in Edmonds’ face, he only wanted the Jews.
The Major took out his Luger and put it squarely between Edmonds eyes. He repeated his demand. I want the Jewish soldiers.
Edmonds looked the Major in his eyes and said…we are all Jews here. You can shoot me. The war will be over shortly, and we will track you down as a war criminal.
The Nazi backed down.
Edmonds refusal saved the lives of 200 American POWs. He is recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations in 2019.
In July of 2021, the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation erected a historical marker in Knoxville, Tennessee, honoring Edmonds.
The effort to pursue the Congressional Medal of Honor was led by Edmonds’ son, Pastor Chris Edmonds. It has continued for years with little movement forward. The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation has been a strong supporter of the effort for years.
Not until President Trump was reelected to office was the Congressional Medal of Honor recognition given serious attention and justice.
Edmonds saved ~200 Jewish lives that day in January 1945. With little doubt, if the Nazi had ordered all Hindus, or Muslims, or Inuits to step forward for the Nazi Final Solution, he would have refused that order as well.
Edmonds would have refused to single out for “special treatment” any soldier hated by the Nazis. His courage resonates with the realization that his response to the Nazi would have been, “we are all Americans here.”
Thank you, President Trump, for honoring MSG Edmonds. Thank you, President Trump, for honoring the commonality of all of us, together, as Americans.
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Jerry Klinger is president of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.