STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, a 10th Mountain Soldier who gave his life shielding Polish Army Lieutenant Karol Cierpica from a suicide bomber while deployed to Afghanistan in 2013, was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. James McConville, during a ceremony on Staten Island, New York June 8.
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military honor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army.
"Every generation has its heroes," McConville said during his remarks. "Michael Ollis is one of ours."
Staff Sgt. Ollis's father and sister, Robert Ollis and Kimberly Loschiavo, received the award from McConville at a Veterans of Foreign War post named in Ollis's honor.
"Through the tears, we have to tell the story of Karol and Michael," said Robert Ollis during the ceremony. "They just locked arms and followed each other. They didn't worry about what language or what color it was. It was two battle buddies, and that's what Karol and Michael did. To help everyone on that FOB they possibly could."
The Distinguished Service Cross ceremony, held in a small yard just outside the VFW post, was packed with veterans, friends and Family members who all came to honor him.
"I was privileged to serve with Michael and Karol when I was the 101st Airborne Division commanding general in Regional Command East while they were deployed," said McConville. "Their actions that day in August against a very determined enemy saved many, many lives."
To close out the weekend, a 5 kilometer run will be held to commemorate the memory of Staff Sgt. Ollis and to raise money for veterans.
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