MEDAL OF HONOR

2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment

The 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment was constituted in the Regular Army as Companies B and K, 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment on May 3, 1861, and organized May 15, 1865, at Camp Dennison, Ohio. It was reorganized and redesignated Companies B and K, 22nd Infantry Regiment, on Sept. 21, 1866. Both companies were consolidated into Company B, 22nd Infantry, on May 4, 1869, as the regiment absorbed the 31st Infantry Regiment. During the Indian Wars of the late 19th century, Company B was stationed at various posts scattered across the frontier.

America’s entrance into the War with Spain in 1898 launched the 22nd Infantry into its first overseas conflict, as the regiment joined the fighting in Cuba and earned participation credit for the Santiago Campaign. It subsequently travelled across the world to assist in suppressing the Philippine Insurrection, earning participation credit for six campaigns during the conflict. After leaving the Philippines, the regiment returned to America. It was garrisoned near San Francisco when an earthquake and fire devastated the city on April 18, 1906, and assisted with relief efforts in the aftermath of the disaster.

The regiment did not deploy to Europe during World War I, instead undertaking domestic defense and readiness duties, principally in the vicinity of New York City. The regiment was stationed at various posts in New York from 1919 to 1922, when it was transferred to Fort McPherson, Georgia. The 22nd Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 4th Division (later designated the 4th Infantry Division) on March 24, 1923, and 2nd Battalion was inactivated on June 30, 1927.

As the U.S. Army prepared for World War II, the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment was activated June 1, 1940, at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The regiment transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, on Feb. 21, 1941. It participated in various training exercises, including the Louisiana Maneuvers, and was stationed at various posts in the eastern United States before it was dispatched across the Atlantic Ocean with the rest of the 4th Infantry Division in early 1944. After arriving in England, the 22nd Infantry trained rigorously for the invasion of Normandy.

On D-Day, the regiment participated in the amphibious assault on Utah Beach. It participated in the fighting in Normandy and northern France and earned a Presidential Unit Citation for its conduct in the vicinity of St. Gillis-Marigny during Operation COBRA in late July 1944.

As the U.S. Army pushed eastward into Germany, the 22nd Infantry fought in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. The regiment suffered heavy losses over eighteen days of combat from November to early December 1944 and was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for its valor during the engagement. By the end of World War II, the regiment had participated in five of the conflict’s campaigns.

After returning to the United States, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry was inactivated on March 1, 1946, at Camp Butner, North Carolina. It was quickly revived and activated again on July 15, 1947, at Fort Ord, California. During the structural reorganizations of the 1950s, the 2nd Battalion was inactivated, relieved from assignment to the 4th Infantry Division, and redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battle Group, 22nd Infantry.

On Aug. 21, 1963, the unit was again redesignated, this time as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, and was again assigned to the 4th Infantry Division. The battalion was activated on Oct. 1, 1963.

The 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry arrived in Vietnam as part of the 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in October 1966. It distinguished itself at the Battle of Suoi Tre, on March 21, 1967, during Operation JUNCTION CITY. For its conduct during the intense, close-quarters engagement, the 2nd Battalion received a Presidential Unit Citation. The 2nd Battalion was relieved of assignment to the 4th Infantry Division and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division on Aug. 1, 1967. It served with the 25th Infantry Division until Dec. 15, 1970, when it was assigned again to the 4th Infantry Division during the drawdown of American forces in Vietnam. During the conflict, the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry participated in eleven campaigns. It was awarded the Cross of Gallantry with Palm by the Republic of Vietnam three times.

Following its return to the United States and reunion with the 4th Infantry Division, the 2nd Battalion was inactivated on Sept. 13, 1972, at Fort Carson, Colorado, where it was activated again on Sept. 21, 1976. It was stationed with the 4th Infantry Division in Germany, where it was again inactivated and relieved of its assignment to the 4th Infantry Division on July 1, 1984.

On Sept. 1, 1986, 2nd Battalion was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division and activated at Fort Drum, New York. In the 1990s, the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry deployed to Somalia in Operation RESTORE HOPE and Haiti in Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. During the Global War on Terrorism, the 2nd Battalion was deployed to Afghanistan in August 2003 as part of Task Force WARRIOR.

On Sept. 16, 2004, it was assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. It deployed to Iraq twice between 2005 and 2008 and returned to Afghanistan in 2010 as part of a mission to train Afghan security forces, followed by another deployment in 2013.

Official Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has posthumously awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to

Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis

United States Army

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.