Corker Joins in Honoring Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds for his Heroism during World War II

Knoxville native is the first American soldier to receive “Righteous Among the Nations” Award from State of Israel

U.S. Senator Bob Corker meets with Rev. Chris Edmonds, son of Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, at the Righteous Among the Nations Ceremony at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Senator Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, attended a ceremony at the Embassy of Israel honoring Army Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds of Knoxville, was recognized posthumously with the “Righteous Among the Nations” award—the highest honor Israel bestows on non-Jews who have risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Edmonds is the first American soldier and only the fifth American to receive this designation.

“The story of Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds is a true profile in courage, demonstrating how one man’s actions and moral convictions saved lives and changed the course of history for many,” said Corker. “ What may have seemed like a common act of decency to Master Sgt. Edmonds was an extraordinary act of bravery to his fellow prisoners and anyone who has heard this remarkable account. I am honored to attend this ceremony joining the Edmonds family, the people of Tennessee, the State of Israel, and the President of the United States in celebrating Master Sgt. Edmonds for his remarkable service to our country and for demonstrating the common humanity to which all of us aspire.”

Edmonds was captured along with thousands of others during the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944 during World War II. He was held captive at the Stalag IXA Prisoner of War (POW) camp for 100 days. A policy imposed by the German military at the time required separating Jewish POWs from the rest of the prisoner population. When a German officer ordered the Jewish American soldiers to present themselves, Edmonds took action. Knowing that Jewish American POWs often were sent to slave labor camps where their chances of survival would be minimal, Master Sgt. Edmonds—the highest ranking soldier in the American section of the camp—ordered more than 1,000 American prisoners to step forward and declared, “We are all Jews here.” According to witnesses who were there, the German officer then threatened Edmonds and put a pistol to his head, giving him one last chance, but Edmonds did not falter, and the German officer eventually withdrew.

The “Righteous Among the Nations” award is the highest honor presented by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Israel to non-Jewish people who risked their lives to save Jewish people during the Holocaust. Along with Edmonds, Yad Vashem posthumously recognized three other individuals in the ceremony this week, Lois Gunden of Goshen, Indiana and Polish citizens Walery and Maryla Zbijewsk. Wednesday also marked the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 71st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
 

Committee Passes Bipartisan North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act

Senator Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by ranking member Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Thursday in announcing Senate Foreign Relations Committee passage of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016. As part of a more effective U.S. policy to achieve the peaceful disarmament of North Korea and advance human rights, the bipartisan Gardner-Menendez bill will expand and tighten enforcement of sanctions for North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile development and other destructive activities of the Kim regime. The legislation was offered as a substitute amendment to North Korea legislation (H.R.757) approved by the House of Representatives earlier this year. Click here to read more.

“The latest nuclear test is a reminder of the failure of current U.S. and international policy to eliminate the threat of North Korea’s nuclear program,” said Corker. “We need a proactive approach that will more effectively isolate the regime instead of continuing to respond to mounting threats and provocation. Complementing legislation in the House, this bipartisan bill will tighten the web of sanctions as part of an overall policy to denuclearize North Korea and promote human rights within the country. I appreciate the hard work of all involved in this effort and the majority leader’s intention to take the bill up on the floor very soon.”

Concerns about Diplomatic Negotiations over Conflict in Syria

After speaking on the phone with a senior representative of the Syrian opposition this week, Senator Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement about diplomatic negotiations over the conflict in Syria.

“Today I heard from Dr. Riyad Hijab, a senior representative of the Syrian opposition,” said Corker. “As we know, the Assad regime— along with their Russian backers— continues to besiege cities, target civilians from the air and use starvation as a tactic of war against its own people, so I can understand the tremendous frustration I heard today from the Syrian opposition. They believe the context of the negotiations for a Syrian peace process has now shifted from what was originally passed in a recent UN Security Council Resolution. A process that prematurely forces the Syrian opposition to the table without taking into consideration their concerns– such as humanitarian access and the release of women and children wrongly imprisoned in Syria – will not produce the desired outcome.”

Tennesseans Visiting Washington

Senator Corker greeted two representatives of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, William Greeg from Milligan College in Johnson City and Stephen Livesay from Bryan College in Dayton, during their trip to Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, Senator Corker enjoyed discussing leadership and important issues in higher education with the Lipscomb University faculty from Nashville.