His sacrifice will reside on.
An Military workers sergeant from Staten Island who died saving a fellow soldier’s life in Afghanistan was honored at an emotional ceremony at his old fashioned Wednesday.
Warfare medals earned by Military Employees Sgt. Michael Ollis — who leapt between a suicide bomber and Polish Lt. Karol Cierpica in Ghazni in August 2013 — have been donated for a memorial show at The Michael J Petridies College throughout the heartfelt occasion.
“Michael was an actual hero,” mentioned Cierpica, who flew from Poland together with his household to pay respect to Ollis.
“He confirmed me the definition of service. Michael ran after me, with out helmet, with out physique armor, solely with gun and he ran to me as a result of he knew somebody wanted assist,” he mentioned.
“I really feel that a part of my coronary heart is on Staten Island.”
Cierpica was joined by his son, Michael, who he named after the fallen soldier.
“Naming my son after Michael was my spouse’s thought and it made sense to me,” mentioned Cierpica, who was flanked by his spouse Basia and elementary-school-aged son Michael.
He additionally advised attendees — together with Ollis’ mother Linda and father Bob — that the Staten Island soldier’s reminiscence will proceed in his family.
“Naming my son after Michael was my spouse’s thought and it made sense to me,” mentioned Cierpica, who was flanked by his spouse Basia and elementary-school-aged son Michael.
Through the ceremony, audio system urged the viewers to “be like Mike” and college students unveiled “a heroes nook” with particulars about his life — prompting Ollis’ household to tear up.
“It’s an emotional day for us,” Linda Ollis, advised The Put up.
“Being right here brings again so many reminiscences for us from when he was a bit of boy.”
Ollis’ donated medals embody the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest navy ornament, marketing campaign medals and the purple coronary heart.
Robert Ollis mentioned his son had a particular connection to the college the place his medals will now be saved.
“Michael bought into mischief however he cherished coming to high school. He by no means gave us a tough time coming right here. He didn’t love homework however he had good buddies and was a very good good friend to many,” he mentioned.
The New Dorp native was 24 years outdated when he was killed by a suicide bomber whereas on his third tour of obligation throughout Operation Enduring Freedom.
He was on account of return residence simply two months later.
Olli’s bravery was memorialized in a ebook written by Tom Sileo which detailed the devastating day Cierpica was saved.
A Staten Island ferry was additionally named after him in 2021.
The ebook revealed Ollis had spent eight months in Ghazni and was about to fly out to Bagram when a truck carrying 3,000 kilos of explosives slammed into the partitions of the soldier’s base.
The unprecedented assault from rebel forces was adopted by mortars and machine gun hearth.
As smoke stuffed the air, Taliban fighters superior and Ollis who, with none protecting gear, sprung into motion returning hearth amid the onslaught.
A lot of the realm was plagued by physique components with the id of fallen troopers masked among the many chaos.
That’s when Ollis noticed the Polish soldier caught within the crossfire.
Immediately, a Taliban fighter sporting a suicide bomb vest charged towards Cierpica, who had been working as an officer in NATO’s Reconstruction Crew.
Inside seconds, Ollis jumped between Cierpica and the suicide bomber bearing the brunt of the blast.
Regardless of medical help, he was pronounced useless, simply three weeks earlier than his twenty fifth birthday.