Medal of Honor: Michael Harold Ollis – War on Terrorism – August 28, 2013

Name: Michael Harold Ollis

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Branch: United States Army

War: War on Terrorism

Unit: Company B, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

Date of Action: August 28, 2013

Location: Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan

Summary of Action

Forward Operating Base Ghazni was home to American, Polish, and other coalition personnel operating in one of Afghanistan's most contested regions. Before dawn on August 28, 2013, insurgents launched a highly coordinated and devastating attack against the installation. The assault included vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers wearing explosive vests, indirect fire, rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms attacks designed to overwhelm the defenders and penetrate deep into the base.

The attack succeeded in breaching the perimeter.

As explosions rocked the installation and enemy fighters poured through the breach, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis immediately sprang into action. His first concern was his soldiers. He ordered them to move from their building into hardened bunkers to shield themselves from the incoming fire. Once he had accounted for his men, many leaders might have remained with them to coordinate the defense.

That was not Michael Ollis.

Without hesitation, he reentered the building to ensure that no one had been left behind. Satisfied that everyone was accounted for, he moved toward the sound of battle and the enemy forces that had penetrated the base.

Along the way, he linked up with a coalition officer. Neither man was wearing personal protective equipment. Armed only with their rifles, they advanced toward the point of attack.

Under a constant barrage of enemy small arms fire, indirect fire, and rocket-propelled grenades, Staff Sergeant Ollis and his fellow defenders fought from position to position, engaging enemy fighters who had infiltrated the airfield and surrounding buildings.

The battle was fierce and chaotic.

Then, in an instant, everything changed.

While maneuvering along the perimeter, an insurgent suddenly emerged around a corner. Staff Sergeant Ollis immediately engaged him, striking him with three rounds from his rifle. During the exchange, the coalition officer accompanying him was wounded in both legs and collapsed, unable to move.

Realizing his comrade could neither escape nor defend himself, Staff Sergeant Ollis made a conscious and deliberate choice.

He placed himself between the wounded officer and the insurgent.

Ignoring his own safety, Staff Sergeant Ollis continued firing and incapacitated the attacker. But as the insurgent fell, he detonated the suicide vest strapped to his body.

The explosion mortally wounded Staff Sergeant Ollis.

By positioning himself between the wounded coalition officer and the suicide bomber, Staff Sergeant Ollis absorbed the devastating effects of the blast and saved the life of the wounded officer.

His sacrifice was not accidental or impulsive—it was a conscious act of courage carried out in the middle of a brutal firefight. He had already ensured the safety of his own soldiers, voluntarily advanced toward the enemy, and ultimately gave his life protecting a fellow warrior from certain death.

Staff Sergeant Michael Harold Ollis was 24 years old.

His actions on that day stand as a timeless reminder of what military service at its highest level truly means: placing the lives of others before your own.

Medal of Honor Citation

MICHAEL HAROLD OLLIS

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army.

Unit: Company B, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

Place and date: Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan, August 28, 2013.

Citation:

Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 28 August 2013, while serving as an Infantryman with Company B, 2d Battalion, 22d Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan.

On this date, a complex enemy attack involving multiple vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, suicide vests, indirect fire and small arms fire was launched against Forward Operating Base Ghazni.

Staff Sergeant Ollis ordered his fellow soldiers who were located in a building to move to bunkers to shield themselves from enemy fire. After accounting for his soldiers, he reentered the building to check for any casualties and then moved toward the enemy force that 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 with only 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 fire, Staff Sergeant Ollis and his comrades moved from position to position engaging the enemy with accurate and effective fire. Fighting along the perimeter of the Forward Operating Base, an insurgent came around a corner, whom Staff Sergeant Ollis immediately engaged with three rifle rounds.

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 downed insurgent, the insurgent's suicide vest detonated and mortally wounded him.

Staff Sergeant Ollis' exceptional courage and complete disregard of personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, and the United States Army.

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