President Trump called the parents of SSG Michael Ollis to let them know his valor award will be upgraded to the Medal Of Honor 🇺🇸
SSG Ollis' Distinguished Service Cross citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Michael Harold Ollis, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States while serving as an Infantryman with Company B, 2d Battalion, 22d Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), in combat operation in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 28 August 2013 in Afghanistan. When a complex enemy attack involving vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, suicide vests, indirect fire, and small arms fire against Forward Operating Base Ghazni began, Staff Sergeant Ollis ordered his fellow Soldiers who were located in a building to move to bunkers to shield themselves from fire. After accounting for his Soldiers, he reentered the building to check for any casualties and then moved toward the enemy force which had penetrated the perimeter of the forward operating base. Staff Sergeant Ollis located a Coalition Forces Officer and together they moved toward the point of attack without their personal protection equipment and armed only with their rifles. Upon reaching the attack point he and his comrade linked up with other friendly forces and began a coordinated effort to repulse the enemy from the airfield and adjacent buildings. While under continuous small arms, indirect, and rocket propelled grenade fires. Staff Sergeant Ollis and his comrades moved from position to position engaging the enemy with accurate and effective fire. While fighting along the perimeter of the forward operating base, an insurgent came around a corner and immediately engaged them with small arms fire. With complete disregard for his own safety. Staff Sergeant Ollis positioned himself between the insurgent and the Coalition Forces Officer who had been wounded in both legs and was unable to walk. Staff Sergeant Ollis fired on the insurgent and incapacitated him, but as he approached the insurgent, the insurgent’s suicide vest detonated mortally wounding him. Staff Sergeant Ollis’ actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and the United States Army.
#stud #hero #USArmy #MedalOfHonor
32 years ago, Delta Force snipers Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon gave their lives during the Battle of Mogadishu. On October 3, 1993, after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down, the pair volunteered to defend the surviving crew despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned. Fighting to the last bullet, they sacrificed themselves to protect their brothers in arms. Both were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first since the Vietnam W*r, and their legacy of courage and selflessness continues to be remembered.