Junior was born on the 7th of October, 1926 in Indianola, Iowa, where he also grew up and enlisted in the US Army in January of 1945. During the final months of World War 2, he served as a cook and as a military policeman. His original enlistment ended in August of 1946 but Junior reenlisted in June of 1947 and was deployed to South Korea, where his actions would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

Sfc. Edwards, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When his platoon, while assisting in the defense of a strategic hill, was forced out of its position and came under vicious raking fire from an enemy machine gun set up on adjacent high ground, Sfc. Edwards individually charged the hostile emplacement, throwing grenades as he advanced. The enemy withdrew but returned to deliver devastating fire when he had expended his ammunition. Securing a fresh supply of grenades, he again charged the emplacement, neutralized the weapon and killed the crew, but was forced back by hostile small-arms fire. When the enemy emplaced another machine gun and resumed fire, Sfc. Edwards again renewed his supply of grenades, rushed a third time through a vicious hail of fire, silenced this second gun and annihilated its crew. In this third daring assault he was mortally wounded but his indomitable courage and successful action enabled his platoon to regain and hold the vital strongpoint. Sfc. Edwards' consummate valor and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the utmost glory upon himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the infantry and military service.

Junior was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on the 1st of February, 1952. Junior Dean Edwards is buried in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in his hometown of Indianola, Iowa.