During an interview with the Polish minister, Newsmax television published a fragment of a recording in which President Donald Trump called the parents of the fallen Michael Ollis and informed them about awarding the soldier the Medal of Honor, the highest US military decoration. Ollis saved Polish captain Karol Cierpica in Afghanistan in 2013 by covering him with his own body.
“We are very stressed,” said the father of the fallen sergeant after receiving a call from the president. “You should be, because your son will receive the highest honor possible,” Trump replied. The soldier's father thanked the president and emphasized that the family was extremely happy about this distinction.
What award did Michael Ollis receive?
In which country did Michael Ollis' heroic action take place?
How did Michael Ollis' family react to the award?
When did Michael Ollis die?
Radosław Sikorski: I sympathize with this family
— My heart goes out to this family and I am glad that they are at least receiving this highest distinction. Of course, in Poland we appreciate what their son did for our soldier, Sikorski said on Newsmax.
— I hope this will make everyone in the US aware of our support. We were with you in Iraq. We (USA) also supported after September 11, voluntarily, for the first time under Art. 5 – he added. – We sent a brigade to the difficult Ghazni province, where 44 of our soldiers died – recalled the Polish Deputy Prime Minister.
Michael Ollis covered captain Karol Cierpica with his body
Ollis' family also expressed their gratitude. “We are extremely grateful to the President of the United States for honoring the heroism of our son, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, with the Medal of Honor. Knowing that Michael's life, legacy and final act of courage have not been forgotten makes us extremely proud and eternally grateful,” the family said in a statement.
It has not been announced yet when the medal ceremony will take place.
US Army Staff Sergeant Ollis, from the New York borough of Staten Island, died on August 28, 2013, when he covered the wounded Captain Karol Cierpica with his body during a suicide attack in the Afghan province of Ghazni. Ollis, 24, was on his third combat mission at the time.
