Orders, Decorations and Medals

Family group:

A Legion of Merit group of seven awarded to Major-General James Ezekiel Edmonds

Legion of Merit, Legionnaire’s Badge, enamelled, reverse hand engraved, ‘James E. Edmonds’, with full wrap brooch inscribed, ‘23929’; Mexican Border Service Medal (564) with full wrap brooch; Victory Medal 1918, official type 2, no clasp, full wrap brooch; American Defense Medal; American Campaign Medal; Victory Medal 1945, these with crimp brooch; Louisiana, Distinguished Service Medal, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse inscribed, ‘LA. D.S.M. to J.E.E.’, with neck cravat; together with a mounted set of six miniature dress medals as the above first six full-size medals and a further mounted set of five miniature dress medals: Sons of the American Revolution, silver-gilt and enamel; Military Order of the Loyal Legion, gold and enamel; Louisiana Longevity Service Medal, bronze, four fleur-de-lis on ribbon; Louisiana, War Cross, bronze and enamel, two fleur-de-lis on ribbon; Louisiana, Emergency Service Medal, bronze and enamel, three fleur-de-lis on ribbon

A Silver Star group of three awarded to James Ezekiel Edmonds Jr.

Silver Star, with oak leaf cluster, reverse machine engraved, ‘James E. Edmonds Jr.’; Air Medal, 3 oak leaf clusters, reverse machine engraved, ‘James E. Edmonds Jr.’; Army Commendation Medal, reverse machine engraved, ‘James E. Edmonds Jr.’, all with slot brooch; Presidential Unit Citation Bar; together with a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp and War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, these unnamed, good very fine and better (23) £450-550

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of American Medals.

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James Ezekiel Edmonds (Senior) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on 17 December 1879. He was educated at the University of Mississippi and graduated in 1900. Served as Private in the Louisiana National Guard Cavalry, September 1902-September 1906. Was a Reporter for the New York Herald, reporting on the Madero Revolution and was the Latin American War Correspondent. Was co-founder of the Baton Rouge State Times, 1916-17. Became a commissioned officer in the Louisiana National Guard in January 1914 and with them attained the rank of Major-General in November 1939. Prior to the Second World War he was commander of the 23rd National Guard Cavalry Division and in 1939 attained the rank of Major-General. In 1954 he was awarded the Louisiana Distinguished Service Medal for his services to the National Guard. On Federal Service, serving with the Field Artillery, 1916-19, he attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1918 and the rank of Major-General in January 1941. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his work as commanding general of Camp Lee, Virginia, 1941-43. During 1943-69 he was a radio broadcaster - military analyst and international news commentator for a number of stations. Was the author of the book Fighting with Fools (1938), which forecast the war with Germany and Italy, and As Lincoln wanted it (1965). Major-General Edmonds died at Asheville, North Carolina on 16 July 1969.

His son, James Ezekiel Edmonds (Junior) was born in 1902.

With a quantity of copied research, including service details derived from The Edmonds Family Association and obituary from The Asheville Citizen. Mexican Border Service Medal ‘564’ is confirmed as having been awarded to James E. Edmonds on 3 July 1919 - issue record bears the note, lost 10.26.20’.