SSG Michael Ollis Plaque - 10th Mountain Division, Afghanistan
Details:
In the entryway to the school. Plaque
A laminated plaque hanging on a wall.
Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis served in the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan in 2013. He was credited with saving the life of a Polish Officer during a terrorist attack. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Polish Gold Star for his actions.
Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis from Staten Island, New York was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light) out of Fort Drum, New York. While deployed in 2013 to Ghazni, Afghanistan, insurgents attacked his compound with vehicle-borne explosive devices, suicide vests, indirect fire and small arms.
After accounting for his troops, Staff Sgt. Ollis checked for any casualties in a building hit during the attack and then moved toward the enemy fighters who entered the base. He managed to locate a fellow coalition Soldier, Polish Army officer, Lt. (ret.) Karol Cierpica and together they moved toward the enemy without their armor, armed only with their rifles. The two stood together to combat the insurgents who breached their defenses, all while under continuous enemy fire.
During the fighting, an insurgent with a suicide bomb vest rounded a corner and charged them. Staff Sgt. Ollis, without body armor, put himself between the insurgent and Cierpica, who was wounded in both legs and unable to walk. Staff Sgt. Ollis fired on the insurgent and incapacitated him, but as he approached him, the insurgent's suicide vest detonated, mortally wounding Staff Sgt. Ollis.
"He died for a great cause: freedom. He followed in the footsteps of millions of Soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their country and spread freedom and democracy throughout the world. Because of his sacrifice, there are fewer terrorists to threaten our countries. He died a hero, and will live on forever in the hearts of our Allies."
The Senior Academic High School at the College of Health Sciences received the permission of Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis' parents, to name the school's Uniformed Classes in his honor.
The memorial was dedicated in 2023.
Source: Defense Visual Information Service
Monument Text:
The plaque is written in Polish and English. The English reads:
MICHAEL H. OLLIS
STAFF SERGEANT
16.X.1988 28.VIII.2013
2nd BATTALION, 22ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 1ST BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION.
GOLD MEDAL OF THE POLISH ARMY AND AFGHANISTAN STAR
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR
AND PURPLE HEART OF THE US ARMY.
WAR HERO WHO GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE A POLISH SOLDIER
LT KAROL CIERPICA DURING THE AFGHANISTAN WAR.
MICHEAL OLLIS THROUGH HIS HEROIC SACRIFICE DEMONSTRATED
GREAT HONOR AND DIGNITY OF HIS FELLOW MAN.
NAMESAKE OF THE UNIFORMED CLASSES OF ACADEMIC HIGH
SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
10th Mountain Division
NATO
Wars:
Global War on Terrorism
Other images :
