The long-delayed award of the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis is bringing a mix of gratitude and sorrow to his family, more than a decade after he sacrificed his life to save others during a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. His sister says the recognition confirms what they have always known about his courage.
Michael Ollis was killed on Aug. 28, 2013, at age 24, when he used his body to shield a Polish army officer from a suicide bomber at a base in Afghanistan. Thirteen years later, President Donald Trump personally informed the family that Ollis will receive the Medal of Honor. His sister, Kimberly Ollis-Losciavo, described the moment as “appreciation, bittersweet, validation,” saying, “Finally, he was validated for his actions after 13 years of really not being validated by the federal government.”
Ollis-Losciavo said her brother received local recognition in Staten Island and New Jersey but not at the federal level. She recalled that her sister wrote to President Barack Obama in 2013 seeking formal recognition, but the request was denied. The case was later reopened during Trump’s first term, then closed again under President Joe Biden.
During those years, the family focused on honoring Ollis’ legacy through service. They launched a foundation to support military-related causes and promote the values he lived by. Community support grew, including fundraising efforts and the naming of a Staten Island ferry after Ollis.
According to Ollis-Losciavo, President Trump reopened the case again, leading to final approval at the Pentagon. “Everyone signed off for him to get the Medal of Honor,” she said. “And we’re just thrilled.”
The award formally recognizes a sacrifice that saved multiple American and Polish service members and affirms Ollis’ place among the nation’s most honored heroes.
