US President Donald Trump is set to award the prestigious Medal of Honor to three US Army soldiers on March 2. The recipients, Master Sergeant Roderick W. Edmonds, Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, and Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson, will be recognized for acts of gallantry spanning World War II, Vietnam, and the war in Afghanistan.
Master Sergeant Edmonds will be honored for his actions as a prisoner of war in Germany between January 27, 1945, and March 30, 1945. He defied a German order to segregate Jewish-American prisoners, risking his life to protect over 1,200 American POWs.
Staff Sergeant Ollis will be acknowledged for his bravery during a complex enemy attack at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013. He selflessly put himself in harm’s way to protect his fellow soldiers, ultimately sacrificing his life to save a wounded officer.
Command Sergeant Major Richardson’s valor near Loc Ninh in the Republic of Vietnam on September 14, 1968, will also be recognized. Despite being wounded, he displayed exceptional courage by rescuing wounded soldiers and directing air strikes, ultimately saving the lives of 85 comrades.
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States, awarded to individuals who exhibit extraordinary bravery and selflessness in combat situations.
