US President Donald Trump shared an emotional phone call with the parents of fallen Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, informing them that their son would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic sacrifice in Afghanistan more than a decade ago.
The call, recorded on video and shared by the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation, shows Trump speaking with Robert and Linda Ollis from their Staten Island home.
When Robert Ollis admitted the couple was “very nervous,” Trump responded by delivering the long-awaited news: their son would receive the nation’s highest military honor.
“There is no higher honor than the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Trump said, prompting visible emotion from Ollis’ father, whose expression shifted to pride and disbelief.
The moment President Trump informed the Ollis family that Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis would posthumously receive the Medal of Honor: https://t.co/bWnQL6XSEB pic.twitter.com/XyE6pqxg1h— Kristina Wong 🇺🇸 (@Kristinawong) February 4, 2026
Trump praised the fallen soldier’s bravery and told the parents their son would be “looking down” proudly. He also commended the family for spending years advocating to keep their son’s story alive, calling their persistence “fantastic.”
Heroism during a deadly Taliban attack
Staff Sgt. Ollis was just 24 years old when he was killed on August 28, 2013, during a Taliban assault on Forward Operating Base Ghazni in eastern Afghanistan. During the attack, a suicide bomber detonated explosives near allied forces.
Witnesses said Ollis threw himself between the bomber and a Polish army officer, absorbing the blast and saving the officer’s life. His actions are believed to have protected more than 40 service members and civilians on the base.
Ollis was initially awarded the Silver Star, later upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross. Years of advocacy followed to elevate the recognition to the Medal of Honor.
Years of advocacy led to approval
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York confirmed the White House approved the award after sustained efforts by Ollis’ family, veterans’ organizations, elected officials, and the Staten Island community.
The Medal of Honor is awarded only after a rigorous review process requiring battlefield documentation, sworn eyewitness testimony, and approval through the full military chain of command.
Who was Michael Ollis?
Born on September 16, 1988, Michael H Ollis served with the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. Known for his leadership and selflessness, he served alongside allied forces in Afghanistan at the time of his death.
Several sites have since been named in his honor, including the SSG Michael H. Ollis Weapons Training Center at Fort Drum, New York, and a dining facility at Camp Kościuszko in Poland.
President Trump has invited the Ollis family to the White House for the Medal of Honor ceremony, though an official date has yet to be announced.
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