Major-General James Ezekiel Edmonds (Senior): Legion of Merit, Legionnaire Grade (bronze gilt and enamels, hand engraved "JAMES E. EDMONDS" on the reverse, 45.5 mm x 47.5 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, engraved "23929" on the pinback); Mexican Border Service Medal (bronze, number impressed "564" on the edge, 32 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, plus Ribbon Bar); WWI Victory Medal, Official Type 2 (bronze, 36 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback); American Defense Medal (bronze, 32 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, plus Ribbon Bar); American Campaign Medal (bronze, 31.8 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, plus Ribbon Bar); WWII Victory Medal (bronze, 35.8 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, plus Ribbon Bar); and Louisiana Distinguished Service Medal (two-piece construction, silver gilt with red, white and blue enamels, engraved "LA. D.S.M. to J.E.E." and maker marked "H.J. CO" on the reverse, 38 mm, on a full-length neck cravat). Accompanied by a Miniature Group of Six: Legion of Merit, Legionnaire Grade (bronze gilt and enamels, 19.3 mm x 21.5 mm); Mexican Border Service Medal (bronze, 16 mm); WWI Victory Medal, Official Type 2 (bronze, 17.8 mm); American Defense Medal (bronze, 16.3 mm); American Campaign Medal (bronze, 16 mm); and WWII Victory Medal (bronze, 18 mm), mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, original ribbons; a Miniature Group of Five Medals: Sons of the American Revolution (three-piece construction, silver gilt with blue and white enamels, 18 mm x 29.5 mm inclusive of its eagle suspension); Military Order of the Loyal Legion (14K Gold with red, white and blue enamels, maker marked "B,B&B" (Bailey, Banks & Biddle of Philadelphia) and "14K" on the ring, 17.5 mm x 19.7 mm); Louisiana Longevity Service Medal (bronze, 16.3 mm, four fleur-de-lis on the ribbon); Louisiana War Cross (bronze with red enamels, 21.2 mm, two fleur-de-lis on the ribbon); and Louisiana Emergency Service Medal (bronze with blue enamel, 17.7 mm, three fleur-de-lis on the ribbon), mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, original ribbons; and a 108th Cavalry Badge (bronze gilt, 26.5 mm x 52.2 mm, angled pinback). James Ezekiel Edmonds (Junior): Silver Star (bronze gilt with silver star, machine engraved "JAMES E. EDMONDS JR." on the reverse, 34.3 mm x 36 mm, oak leaf cluster on the ribbon, original ribbon with brooch pinback, plus Ribbon Bar); Air Medal (bronze, machine engraved "JAMES E. EDMONDSJR." on the reverse, 42 mm, three oak leaf clusters on the ribbon, original ribbon with brooch pinback); Army Commendation Medal (bronze, machine engraved "JAMES E. EDMONDS JR." on the reverse, 35 mm x 40 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, plus Ribbon Bar); Presidential Unit Citation Bar (framed ribbon, 16 mm x 37 mm); Canada: Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp (silver, un-named, 36.5 mm, original ribbon); and Great Britain: War Medal 1939-1945 (silver Canadian issue, un-named, 36 mm, original ribbon). Accompanied by assorted research papers including service details derived from The Edmonds Family Association and obituary from The Asheville Citizen. The Mexican Border Service Medal, number 564, is confirmed as having been awarded to James E. Edmonds (Senior) on July 3, 1919, the issue record bearing the note "lost 10.26.20" (October 26, 1920).
Footnote: James Ezekiel Edmonds (Senior) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 17, 1879. His father was a former Ohio Volunteer Infantry Major, while his mother was a sister to six Confederate soldiers. He was educated at the University of Mississippi and graduated in 1900. Edmonds enlisted as a citizen-soldier and served as a Private in the Louisiana National Guard Cavalry from September 1902 to September 1906. He was a Reporter/Cartoonist for the New York Herald, reporting on the Madero Revolution and was the Latin American War Correspondent, later becoming co-founder of the Baton Rouge State Times in 1916-1917. Edmonds was an eyewitness to jungle fighting in Central America, street and desert fighting in Mexico and the bombing of Chinese cities by the Japanese. His articles appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, Current History and other national publications. He became a commissioned officer in the Louisiana National Guard in January 1914 in the historic "Washington Artillery". In the rank of Captain, Edmonds was on Federal Service and commanded a Field Artillery Battery on the Mexican border from June 19, 1916 to February 28, 1917, and during the First World War, from April 10, 1917 to September 15, 1919. During the First World War, now in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, attained in July 1918, he instructed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma at the Field Artillery School of Fire and organized the 34th Field Artillery and 12th Field Artillery Brigades. After the Armistice was signed, he was attached to the General Staff in Washington, D.C. From 1938 to 1940, Edmonds organized and commanded the 108th Cavalry, 55th Cavalry Brigade reinforced and the 23rd National Guard Cavalry Division, composed of troops from Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Tennessee. During manouevres, they were commended in official regular reports, the units later scattered and participating in various theaters of war. General Edmonds was not permitted to go along with his men, as he was considered by the War Department as "over age in grade for combat command". He attained the rank of Major-General in November 1939. Following the disbanding of the National Guard units, Edmonds became Commanding General at Camp Lee, Virginia on January 6, 1941, starting with only 78 soldiers, which was later expanded to the Quartermaster Replacement Training Center Quartermaster School, the Reception Center and Hospital Units under his jurisdiction. It was for his efforts in the rank of Commanding General at Camp Lee that he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Legionnaire Grade, with Edmonds retiring on December 17, 1943. In 1954, he was awarded the Louisiana Distinguished Service Medal for his services to the National Guard, which he helped activate and command. In his personal life, he was married to Cynthia H. Edmonds, and from 1943 to 1969, he was a radio broadcaster, military analyst and international news commentator for a number of stations, also credited with being Managing Editor of the New Orleans Times-Picayne. He was also the author of two books: "Fighting with Fools" (1938), which forecast the war with Germany and Italy, and "As Lincoln Wanted It" (1965), along with being a dedicated civic worker in Asheville, North Carolina, serving as Public Relations Director for Memorial Mission Hospital and as Chairman for the Community Chest drive in 1950. He was also a member of the Asheville Civitan Club and All Souls Episcopal Church. Major-General Edmonds died in Asheville, North Carolina on July 16, 1969, at the age of 89. His son, James Ezekiel Edmonds (Junior) was born on December 6, 1903 in Louisiana. The younger Edmonds enlisted on February 10, 1921 with the Louisiana National Guard, number 0-251-061, placed with Battery A, 141st Field Artillery (Washington Artillery) serving through November 14, 1921. He enlisted again on March 6, 1927 and served through February 5, 1928 in Battery B, 141st Separate Battalion Field Artillery, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on February 6, 1928 and resigned as a 1st Lieutenant on December 31, 1932. During the Second World War, he was active in various capacities with the United States Army. James E. Edmonds, United States Army, is reported to have been awarded the Silver Star under General Orders No. 46 (1943) while serving with the 1st Armored Division and received a subsequent award of the Silver Star (oak leaf cluster) under General Orders No. 78 (1945) while serving with the 9th Infantry Division, both for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy during the Second World War.