The events date back to 23 August 2013, when Afghan insurgents launched a coordinated assault on a military base in Ghazni, attempting to breach the perimeter at multiple points.
Captain Karol Cierpica, a reserve officer serving with Poland’s 6th Airborne Brigade, was wounded in the leg during the attack.
At a critical moment, Sergeant First Class Ollis shielded him from enemy fire.
The American soldier sustained life-threatening injuries and did not survive the incident.
The act of heroism had a lasting impact on those involved.
Cierpica and Ollis’ relatives met after the tragedy and continue to maintain a close relationship to this day.
Ollis had previously been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 2019, the U.S. Army’s second-highest military decoration, and will now be honoured with the Medal of Honor in recognition of his ultimate sacrifice.
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Source: IAR