The Jacksons continued to grow their family, with Barbara Jackson giving birth in Germany to Eric Jackson two years later. “It was at that point she told my dad that ‘your son looks like our son.’”Īfter finding out he had another son, Jackson tried to find the baby boy to create the opportunity for his children to meet as brothers, but he was never able to locate him. “By chance, my dad happened to run into this former girlfriend with my brother, Brian, and she started crying,” Col. It was there that Jackson bumped into a person from his past who had the surprise of a lifetime for him. While the Edmonsons were officially adopting their baby boy, the Jackson family was preparing to be sent to Germany for their next duty station. Soon after, they had a son named Brian and began their journey as a military family, moving around the world. Jackson was redeployed to Texas, where he met his wife Barbara. In 1967, after being stationed in Germany, Edward L. Robert Edmonson was a Vietnam War Veteran and served for 20 years in the U.S. Robert Edmonson II and his father celebrate his graduation from Ranger School in 1991. In a treasured photo, Robert Edmonson beams with happiness as he shows off his ‘Proud Ranger Dad’ t-shirt with the son that fate brought to him. Edmonson has from his life with his adoptive parents. “He used the Army as a way to uplift himself and his family.”Įven with all the accolades and changes in rank, the overwhelming sense of pride and love Robert Edmonson had for his son is apparent in the many family photos Maj. “My father’s service in the military had a lot to do with why I chose to serve,” Maj. Edmonson went on to join the military, completing multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and earning numerous honors including the Bronze Star Medal and Meritorious Service Medal. “They provided for me as best they could, and I wouldn’t change a thing.” “I had a terrific upbringing raised by an Army family who served for 20 years,” Maj. Raised with the Army values at the forefront, the Edmonsons created a home filled with love, integrity, respect and selflessness, instilling an affinity for service within their son. “My birth mother and father met while he was assigned in Germany and then later I’d be adopted by another Soldier and an Austrian mother.” “It’s amazing to think I was born as a result of the Army,” Maj. (Photo Credit: Courtesy Photo) VIEW ORIGINAL Their son went onto become a Major General in the Army. The Edmonson adopted Robert Edmonson II while stationed in Germany with the U.S. Edmonson II months before his official adoption by the couple. Edmonson and Margaret Edmonson pictured with Robert L. From that moment, a lifelong bond between the new parents and their child, Robert L. In 1968, the couple was introduced to the then 6-month-old baby boy whose name also happened to be Robert. The Edmonsons had been attempting to have children of their own and were looking for a different way to grow their family. A few months following this pivotal decision, a German woman gave birth to a baby boy and placed him up for adoption after her former boyfriend, an African American Soldier, was redeployed to the states. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that interracial marriage bans were unconstitutional. Back home in the States, Mildred and Richard Loving were sentenced to a year in prison for their interracial nuptials. That request was granted, Robert Edmonson returned to Germany and the two married in 1958, a significant year in the fight for marriage equality. After researching which military units were stationed in Germany, Robert Edmonson reenlisted with the Army on the caveat that he would only return if he was placed with one of these units. Seeing that life together would need to start abroad, Robert Edmonson left the Army. However, this was the 1950s in America, a time when interracial marriage was not only considered a social taboo but was illegal. They knew Margaret would never be able to join Edmonson unless they were married. The two fell in love, but Edmonson was quickly sent back to the United States for his next duty station. Edmonson met a woman named Margaret from Vienna, Austria. While serving in Germany, a young, African American U.S. (Photo Credit: Jackson Family) VIEW ORIGINAL Eric Jackson unite after discovering they were half-brothers. Robert Edmonson II, Brian Jackson and Col.
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