White House approves Medal of Honor for Army Staff Sgt Michael Ollis
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The White House approved the Medal of Honor for fallen Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, of Staten Island, New York, died protecting an allied soldier in Afghanistan in 2013. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-R.Y., said she was notified of the decision in a statement posted on social media.
The decision came after years of advocacy from veterans groups, elected officials and the Staten Island community for official recognition of Ollis’ actions; Supporters have long argued that it meets our nation’s highest standard of military honor.
Malliotakis said in a Facebook post that he was notified directly by the White House.
“We have been notified by the White House that Staten Island’s hometown hero, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, has been approved for the Medal of Honor for an act of extraordinary heroism,” Malliotakis wrote.
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Split view of Army Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis, from 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Ollis gave his life protecting a Polish soldier during an attack in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province on August 28, 2013. Ollis is awarded the Medal of Honor. (I’ve Got Your Back/Facebook; DVDs)
Ollis was killed in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013, when he used his body to protect a Polish Army officer during a suicide bombing. He was 24 years old.
“In 2013, Sergeant Major Ollis gave his life to save an allied soldier, and his courage, dedication and sacrifice represent the best of our nation,” he continued.
Malliotakis praised years of advocacy efforts and added, “After years of advocacy from the American Legion, our elected officials, and the Staten Island community, we are grateful to President Donald Trump for recognizing Staff Sergeant Ollis’ extraordinary heroism as our nation’s highest military honor.”
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military decoration and is awarded for actions that go beyond the call of duty. Although standards for awarding the medal have evolved over time, it has always recognized “conspicuous bravery and intrepidity at the risk of life,” according to the medal. Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The current criteria were established in 1963 during the Vietnam War.
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Brig. Gen. Eric Riley, deputy commander of the 10th Mountain Division, poses with uniformed cadets from the 10th Mountain Division and Staff Sgt. M. Ollis Junior Education Corps in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after a wreath-laying ceremony on August 28, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Devin Klecan)
Under these standards, the medal may be awarded for actions against an enemy of the United States, during military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign power, or while serving with friendly foreign forces in armed conflicts in which the United States is not a belligerent.
The awarding of the medal requires a strict review process. Each recommendation requires detailed reports on the action itself and battlefield conditions, testimony from at least two sworn eyewitnesses, and additional supporting evidence.
Advisory packages must be approved by the entire military chain of command before reaching the president, who serves as commander in chief.
Federal law also imposes strict timelines on the process; The recommendations call for submission within three years of this meritorious act and the awarding of the medal within five years. Any submission outside these limits would require Congress to vote to waive time limits.
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Army Staff Sgt. Michael Harold Ollis’ parents, Robert and Linda Ollis, his sister, Kelly Manzolillo, and Lt. Karol Cierpika, the Polish Army officer whose life he saved, gathered to unveil his portrait and memorial plaque during a ceremony at which the dining facility was renamed Staff Sgt. Michael Harold Ollis Warrior Grill, October 27, 2023, at Camp Kosciuszko, Poland. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sergeant Karen Sampson)
Ollis’ family also addressed the reports in a statement shared by the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation.
“We are extremely grateful to the President of the United States for recognizing the heroism of our son, US Army Chief of Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, with the Medal of Honor,” the statement said. “Knowing that Michael’s life, his legacy, and his final act of bravery have not been forgotten leaves us with a sense of great pride and eternal gratitude.”
In the statement, supporters advocating for recognition were also thanked in a separate statement.
“We also greatly appreciate the letters, emails, and phone calls from government and military officials, local leaders, nonprofit organizations, and the many friends we have had the pleasure of knowing here on Staten Island and beyond. It is overwhelming to know that you have not forgotten Michael or our family.”
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and War Department for additional details about the Medal of Honor process, including timing and ceremony plans.
The Ollis family did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional comment.
