In a solemn ceremony, President Trump posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Michael Ollis, a heroic son of Staten Island, for his courageous actions in Afghanistan over a decade ago.
“Michael grew up with the iconic view of the World Trade Center,” President Trump, who hails from Queens, noted as he praised the resilient spirit of Staten Island residents during a speech in the White House’s East Room.
Ollis embarked on his military journey in 2006, joining the Army soon after completing his education at The Michael J Petridies School.
On August 28, 2013, Ollis was stationed at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan. In a split-second decision, he placed himself between a NATO ally from Poland and a Taliban insurgent armed with a suicide vest.
Ollis absorbed the devastating impact of the explosion, sacrificing his life just shy of his 25th birthday. His valiant intervention is credited with saving over 40 military personnel and civilians at the base.
“The magnitude of his bravery is unparalleled,” remarked President Trump on Monday, underscoring Ollis’s extraordinary courage.
Karol Cierpica, the Polish soldier whose life Ollis saved, attended the White House ceremony with his son, named Michael, in his fallen comrade’s honor.
Cierpica, apologizing for his broken English, spoke movingly of Ollis, thanking him for saving his life.
“I am deeply moved, happy, and grateful to God for my service, for my parents, for my family, for my first home in Poland, for my second family from Staten Island, and for my second home in America,” he said. “God bless you all. Michael, thank you for your service, and I will see you in our heavenly homeland.”
Ollis was awarded the Medal of Honor for “exceptional courage and complete disregard for personal safety,” according to the citation.
His parents, Bob and Linda, attended the ceremony and accepted the Medal of Honor on his behalf.
“Your son’s selflessness in the face of real evil reminds us of the courage that keeps our country free,” Trump told them.
“Thank you for giving America your beloved son.”
Trump personally called Bob and Linda Ollis earlier this month to tell them he was awarding their son the nation’s highest military honor.
“Thank you so much, Mr. President. You have no idea the happiness we have,” Robert said in the call, a video of which was posted on social media.
“Thank you for facilitating this! This is so wonderful,” Linda added.
The Ollises had worked to keep Michael’s story alive and campaigned for him to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
His parents have also honored Ollis’ memory with the SSG Ollis Freedom Foundation to help veterans in need.
The NYC Department of Transportation also honored Ollis by inaugurating a trio of so-called “Ollis-class” Staten Island ferries beginning in February 2022, with the first of the three bearing the name of the late soldier.
