POZNAN, Poland - Ten years after Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis lost his life saving the life of a Polish officer during combat in Afghanistan, the Michael Harold Ollis Warrior Grill was named at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan, Poland.
On Aug. 28 2013, a 3,000-pound car bomb breached the eastern perimeter wall of the base Ollis was stationed at. Ten insurgents in suicide vests infiltrated the compound. Ollis headed toward the blast site with only one magazine in his rifle and no body armor. There, he found a Polish lieutenant who had taken shrapnel to the leg from the explosion. After helping him, SSG Ollis moved the Polish officer to a safer location. With eight of the 10 insurgents killed, the Polish officer was wounded again in the other leg by a grenade thrown by the ninth attacker. SSG Ollis was rendering first aid to the wounded officer when the final suicide-vest-wearing attacker approached. Ollis stood up and moved himself between the Polish officer and the attacker, killing the enemy, however, the enemy's vest exploded, killing Ollis. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 10th Mountain Division, and the United States Army.
SSG Ollis was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Audie Murphy Medallion.
The Ollis family attended the naming ceremony on Oct. 27, 2023 at Camp Kosciuszko and helped to unveil the Michael Harold Ollis Warrior Grill name plaque. The Polish officer who Ollis saved, Karol Cierpica, was also at the ceremony.
SSG Ollis demonstrated the noblest of character traits by sacrificing his life to save the lives of others. Heroic actions that will be remembered by generations to come.
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