Roderick W. Edmonds (August 20, 1919 – August 8, 1985)[1] 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 camp in Germany, where—at the risk of his life—he saved an estimated 200–300 Jews from being singled out from the camp for Nazi persecution and possible death.

Some sources, including the 1930 Federal census and the posthumous act awarding him the Congressional Gold Medal, spell his given name "Rodrick".

[1][3][4][6] On their first day in Stalag IX-A, January 27, 1945—as Germany's defeat was clearly approaching—Commandant Siegmann ordered Edmonds to tell only the Jewish-American soldiers to present themselves at the next morning's assembly so they could be separated from the other prisoners.

After returning from Korea, he worked variously for The Knoxville Journal and in sales related to mobile homes and cable television.

Chris Edmonds, a Baptist minister, began researching his story, and stumbled upon a mention of the event at the POW camp.

Among the Jewish-American POW servicemen who were saved was Sonny Fox, an American television host and executive, who witnessed and later recounted Edmonds' actions.

[1][3][9] On 10 February 2015, Yad Vashem recognized Edmonds as "Righteous Among the Nations," Israel's highest honor for non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Chris Edmonds received the Righteous medal and certificate of honor from Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer and Yad Vashem Council Chairman Rabbi Lau on his father's behalf at the ceremony.

[4][5][13] The effort was renewed on April 21, 2021, with US Representative Tim Burchett (TN) introducing the "Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act".