No Surrender: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier's Extraordinary Courage in the Face of Evil

Christopher Edmonds uncovers his father's World War II service and heroism after rereading his wartime diaries. Roddie Edmonds, a soldier from East Tennessee, was captured at the Battle of the Bulge and held at Stalag IXA, a Nazi POW camp, but rarely discussed his experiences with his family. When Chris's daughter was assigned a family history project, it prompted him to investigate further. Over years, he interviewed surviving PO Ws who served under his father and retraced Roddie's path from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to Germany, where Roddie confronted Nazi officers. Working with coauthor Douglas Century, Chris documents his father's previously untold actions that affected thousands of lives. The book traces Roddie's transformation from a young soldier into a leader of men, revealing acts of moral courage during his captivity. Chris reflects on discovering that ordinary people possess untapped potential to act courageously and effect change by standing up for what is right. The narrative examines the lasting effects of one person's bravery across generations.