During WW 'll.Donnie Edmonds of Knoxville was captured during the battle of the Bulge and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Germany.One day the Germsn commander had all the prisoners form up in the camp and order that all Jewish American soldiers step foreword.Edmonds, the highest ranking non-commissioned American officer ordered"no one to step foreword "and told the German officer "we are all American Jews", to which the German officer replied "if u don't come foreword, I will shoot u, holding a gun to Edmunds head.Edmonds told him,if u shoot me, u will have to shoot us all and the war, u will be tried as a war criminal.The German bolstered his pistol and walked away.
Edmonds son, a Baptist minister in Maryville,Tn. Found out about this by reading a story about A Jewish man in New York telling Richard Nixon he was in that camp and saw it happen and Edmonds saved his and 200 other American Jewish soldiers their lives.He said I remember what was said as clearly as yesterday.
Edmonds was recently honored by a Jewish Org. For his bravery...the only American servicemen ever honored for saving Jewish lives in WWIi and is currently under consideration for the Medal Of Honor.
Would be nice if East Tn. members would contact Rev. Edmunds in Maryville and thank him for what he did.
Edmonds son, a Baptist minister in Maryville,Tn. Found out about this by reading a story about A Jewish man in New York telling Richard Nixon he was in that camp and saw it happen and Edmonds saved his and 200 other American Jewish soldiers their lives.He said I remember what was said as clearly as yesterday.
Edmonds was recently honored by a Jewish Org. For his bravery...the only American servicemen ever honored for saving Jewish lives in WWIi and is currently under consideration for the Medal Of Honor.
Would be nice if East Tn. members would contact Rev. Edmunds in Maryville and thank him for what he did.
