U.S. President Donald Trump presents the posthumous Medal of Honor to Linda and Robert Ollis, mother and father of U.S. Military Employees Sergeant Michael Ollis, throughout a ceremony on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 2, 2026.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
A Staten Island resident who courageously gave up his life to save lots of a fellow soldier throughout the Struggle in Afghanistan was given the navy Medal of Honor on the White Home on Monday.
President Donald Trump posthumously offered the award to Employees Sgt. Michael H. Ollis throughout a particular ceremony on March 2. Ollis was acknowledged for the valor he bravely demonstrated as an infantryman throughout fight at Ahead Working Base Ghazni, Afghanistan, in 2013.
Ollis was born on Sept. 16, 1988, in Staten Island. After witnessing the September 11, 2001, terror assaults on the US, he felt compelled to affix the ROTC program at school. Along with his mother and father’ consent, he joined the navy’s Delayed Entry Program earlier than enlisting within the Military in 2006.
Michael H. Ollis: Killed by a suicide bomber
The NYC native was beneath direct enemy assault involving improvised explosive gadgets (IEDs), suicide vests and oblique fireplace on the base when he ordered his fellow troopers to maneuver from a constructing to bunkers for cover. When his group was protected, he reentered the constructing and checked for casualties earlier than transferring towards the enemy drive that was penetrating the bottom.
He and an injured Polish Coalition Forces officer, Lt. Karol Cierpica, whom he met throughout the battle, had been confronted by an enemy carrying a suicide vest.
Whereas beneath steady fireplace, Ollis joined different pleasant forces as they moved from place to place, participating the enemy. Whereas combating alongside the perimeter, the rebel approached the group and engaged them with small-arms fireplace.
“With complete disregard for his own safety, Ollis positioned himself between the insurgent and the Polish officer, who was wounded and unable to walk,” the U.S. Military’s web site reads. “Ollis fired on the insurgent and incapacitated him, but as he approached, the insurgent’s suicide vest detonated, mortally wounding Ollis.”
Polish soldier Karol Cierpica, saved in Afghanistan in August 2013 by posthumous honoree U.S. Military Employees Sergeant Michael Ollis, speaks whereas standing subsequent to U.S. President Donald Trump throughout a Medal of Honor ceremony held on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 2, 2026.REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
Polish officer’s “second family in Staten Island”
Trump underscored the immense sacrifice Ollis made for his nation. He offered the award to Ollis’ mother and father, Robert and Linda.
“Staff Sgt. Ollis was killed just weeks before his 25th birthday. And no one was anymore brave than that,” Trump mentioned. “In his final act on Earth, Michael absorbed the blast, sparing the life of that Polish warrior.”
Cierpica, who attended the ceremony, spoke about Ollis’ selfless act of valor.
“Today, my greatest gift is to cultivate the memory of true heroic courage that I witnessed by your beloved son Michael,” Cierpica mentioned. “Please forgive me if my words have not fully captured what I truly feel today. However, sometimes words are simply not enough.”
Cierpica named his son Michael after Ollis. He known as Ollis’ household his “second family from Staten Island” and America his “second home.”
Trump awarded two different U.S. Military troopers with the Medal of Honor throughout the ceremony. Grasp Sgt. Roderick Edmonds posthumously obtained the popularity for his acts of gallantry throughout World Struggle ll through which he defied a Nazi order to determine Jewish-American POWs. Threatened at gunpoint, he refused, defending over 200 troopers.
Vietnam Struggle Veteran then-Employees Sgt. Terry Richardson obtained the distinction for going above the decision of obligation when he rescued fellow troopers whereas beneath enemy assault on Sept. 14, 1968.
Trump offers updates on Iran battle
Earlier than presenting the medals, Trump up to date People on the Iran battle, now often known as Operation Epic Fury, which started on Saturday with sweeping U.S. and Israeli navy strikes on the Center Jap nation, killing the nation’s supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump mentioned the battle, which already resulted within the deaths of 4 U.S. service members, would proceed for 4 to 5 weeks, with the “capability” to go longer.
“Today the United States military continues to carry out large-scale combat operations in Iran to eliminate the grave threats posed to America by this terrible terrorist regime,” the President mentioned.
Trump mentioned the Iranian authorities refused to cease pursuing nuclear weapons by breaching settlement limits, decreasing transparency and having stockpiles of enriched uranium, prompting the assault.
In the meantime, protests continued throughout the nation, together with in NYC, each in assist and opposition of the continued navy motion.
