President Donald Trump presented the Congressional Medal of Honour to three American soldiers at the White House. Master Sergeant Roderick Edmonds, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, and Command Sergeant Major Terry Richardson were honored for their exceptional bravery in World War II, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Edmonds, a prisoner of war in Germany in 1945, defied Nazi orders to segregate Jewish American prisoners, saving over 200 lives.
Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson was recognized for his heroism in Vietnam in 1968. Despite heavy enemy fire, he rescued wounded soldiers and directed tactical airstrikes, saving 85 lives. Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, who sacrificed his life during a Taliban attack in Afghanistan in 2013, displayed exceptional courage by intervening to save a Polish officer from a suicide attacker.
The Medal of Honour, the highest US military decoration established in 1863, is awarded for acts of gallantry beyond the call of duty. The ceremony also emphasized the enduring defense partnership between the US and Poland, highlighting their cooperation in Afghanistan. The Medal of Honour, a symbol of sacrifice in war, has been awarded over 3,500 times since the Civil War, often recognizing heroism years after the event.
