Michael Ollis

He shielded a wounded ally as an enemy bomber set off a bomb

Michael Harold Ollis was born on Staten Island, New York, on 16 September 1988, the son of Robert and Linda Ollis. Military service by his father and grandfathers influenced him from childhood. He joined Junior ROTC at the Michael J. Petrides School and enlisted in the Regular Army on 3 August 2006 after entering the delayed-entry programme.

He trained at Fort Benning and initially served in Germany with the 1st Armored Division. He deployed to Iraq in 2008-09, then served with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in 2010-11. He completed Air Assault, Airborne and Ranger training. After transfer to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, he returned to Afghanistan in January 2013 with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment.

On 28 August, insurgents attacked Forward Operating Base Ghazni using vehicle bombs, suicide vests and gunfire. Ollis moved his soldiers to bunkers, checked a building for casualties and then advanced toward the breach. He joined Polish officer Karol Cierpica and other coalition troops in clearing the perimeter.

Cierpica was wounded and could not walk. When an insurgent appeared, Ollis placed himself between the attacker and the Polish officer. He shot the insurgent, but the man's suicide vest exploded as Ollis approached. Ollis was killed, while Cierpica survived.

His original Silver Star was upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross in 2019 and subsequently to the Medal of Honor. President Donald Trump presented the Medal of Honor to his parents on 2 March 2026. That day his family also received Poland's Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, a separate state recognition of his sacrifice. Poland had previously awarded its Gold Medal of the Polish Army. He was buried in the Cemetery of the Resurrection on Staten Island. His family established a foundation in his memory, and a Staten Island ferry was named for him.