Soldier who trained at Fort Benning will be awarded Medal of Honor posthumously
A U.S. Army soldier who trained at Fort Benning posthumously will be awarded the military’s highest decoration for heroism.
Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, who died 13 years ago at age 24 while saving the life of an allied soldier in Afghanistan, has been approved for the Medal of Honor, U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) announced Tuesday night on her Facebook page.
Malliotakis said the White House notified her about this recognition for “Staten Island’s hometown hero.”
“Staff Sergeant Ollis gave his life to save an allied soldier, and his courage, selflessness, and sacrifice represent the very best of our nation,” her post says. “Staff Sergeant Ollis’ final act was worthy of the Medal of Honor and 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 with our nation’s highest military honor.”
No date for the ceremony has been announced.
What was Michael Ollis’ heroic act and connection to Fort Benning?
According to a 2024 article on the Army’s website reporting Fort Drum named a facility in honor of Ollis, he enlisted in the Army at age 17 in 2006 and completed his basic training at Fort Benning before being assigned to the 1st Armored Division in Germany and deploying to Iraq in 2008.
After assignments at Fort Campbell and Fort Drum, as well as deployment to Afghanistan, Ollis returned to Fort Benning and graduated from Ranger School and Airborne School in 2012.
“Newly promoted as a staff sergeant, Ollis was given a squad to lead within B Company’s 2nd Platoon,” Mike Strasser, the Fort Drum garrison public affairs officer, wrote in that 2024 article. “He made it a priority that they develop family-like cohesion ahead of their deployment to the Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, in January 2013” during Operation Enduring Freedom.
While stationed at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, which included international allies commanded by the Polish military, Ollis was in a recreational facility on Aug. 28, 2013, when “a concentrated enemy attack of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, indirect fire, and indirect fire against the FOB began,” Strasser wrote.
The U.S. Department of the Army’s citation says Ollis and allied soldiers were “without their personal protection equipment and armed only with their rifles. … 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.”
Ollis and 2nd Lt. Karol Cierpica, a Polish officer, were moving along the perimeter when Cierpica was hit by shrapnel as an insurgent wearing a suicide vest headed toward them, according to Strasser.
“An insurgent came around a corner and immediately engaged them with small arms fire,” the citation says. “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.”
Since then, the American Legion reported, Ollis was posthumously recognized with numerous valor medals, including the Silver Star, which in 2019 was upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military honor.
His actions became part of military lore in Poland, which recognized Ollis with the Polish Army Gold Medal for valor, according to the American Legion.
How are Medal of Honor recipients selected?
According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the award is authorized for any military service member who “distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
- “While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
- “While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
- “While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.”
Recommendation packets with documentation of the valorous act must be approved through the military chain of command. The packet then moves to the U.S. Department of Defense for approval. Then the president, as commander-in-chief, has authority for final approval.
How many Medals of Honor have been awarded?
A total of 3,547 Medals of Honor have been awarded, according to the society’s website, including 3,528 recipients because 19 military service members have received two Medals of Honor.
Based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 report showing more than 41 million Americans have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the nation’s history, approximately one out of every 11,621 military members have received a Medal of Honor.
How many Medal of Honor recipients were connected to Fort Benning?
Fort Benning garrison public affairs director Joe Cole told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email Wednesday, “Regarding all MoH receipts who have been stationed at Fort Benning, we don’t have the capacity to do an exhaustive search of the complete duty history for all.” But he noted “roughly one out of every four” Army soldiers train at Fort Benning during some point in their career.
So it’s not surprising Fort Benning is connected to Medal of Honor recipients. Here are the ones Cole listed, cautioning that “not all individuals listed below were assigned to Benning during the action they were recognized for, and the list is not comprehensive.”
Global War on Terrorism
Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe: Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning. He received the medal posthumously in 2021 for repeatedly entering a burning Bradley vehicle to save his fellow soldiers in Iraq despite suffering fatal burns.
Vietnam War
Sgt. 1st Class Robert J. Pruden: Assigned to Company G (Ranger), 75th Infantry. He is the only graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger Course to receive the medal while serving in a Ranger unit.
Staff Sgt. Laszlo Rabel: Assigned to 74th Infantry Detachment. He posthumously received the medal for throwing himself on a grenade to save his team.
Spc. 4 Robert D. Law: Assigned to Company I (Ranger), 75th Infantry. He was the first U.S. Army Ranger to receive the medal while assigned to a Ranger unit.
Sgt. 1st Class Bennie G. Adkins: While his action was with the 5th Special Forces Group, he was a longtime local resident whose legacy is honored at the post with a statue and regular ceremonies.
Korean War
Col. Ralph Puckett Jr.: Honored with a bronze statue on Hurley Hill at Fort Benning in 2025. He received the medal for his leadership with the 8th Ranger Infantry Company.
Gen. Richard E. Cavazos: Awarded posthumously in January 2025 for actions during the Korean War while serving with the 3rd Infantry Division.
Pfc. Charles R. Johnson: Posthumously awarded in January 2025 for his bravery in the Korean War while assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division.
World War II
Col. Robert B. Nett: Though his medal action occurred with the 77th Infantry Division, he served as a legendary instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning and is buried at the Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery.
Pvt. George Watson: Assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 29th Quartermaster Regiment. He is memorialized by Watson Field at the installation.
This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 2:28 PM.
