This browser does not support the Video element.
Trump participates in Medal of Honor ceremony
President Trump recognized 3 soldiers with the Medal of Honor. Trump hosted the ceremony at the White House on Monday.
President Trump awarded three U.S. Army Soldiers the Medal of Honor, two of them posthumously, during a ceremony at The White House Monday.
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, and U.S. Army Master Sergeant Roderick (Roddie) W. Edmonds, were honored posthumously, along with retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson.
Chris Edmonds (L), son of Army Master Sgt. Roderick W. Edmonds, accepts the Medal of Honor for his late father from US President Donald Trump during a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 2, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / …
U.S. Army Master Sergeant Roderick (Roddie) W. Edmonds awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously
U.S. Army Master Sergeant Roderick (Roddie) W. Edmonds, received the Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts during World War II when he was a prisoner of war in Ziegenhain, Germany in 1945.
On Jan. 26, 1945, the commandant of the prison announced that only Jewish-American prisoners would report for roll call the following morning. Edmonds realized that segregating more than 200 Jewish-American POWs would likely result in them being persecuted and possibly killed, so he directed his senior leaders to have all 1,200 American prisoners present themselves for roll call.
At formation the next morning, the commandant ordered Edmonds to hand over the Jewish soldiers and Edmonds responded, "We are all Jews." Enraged, the commandant took his pistol and pressed it against Master Sergeant Edmonds’ forehead and demanded that he order all Jewish-American prisoners to step forward, or he would be shot.
Edmonds refused and warned the commandant that if he shot American prisoners, he would be tried as a war criminal after the war ended. Ultimately, the commandant backed down.
Without regard for his own life, Master Sergeant Edmonds led these prisoners in a relentless pursuit of opposition and resistance, forcing the Germans to abandon the camp, leaving the 1,200 American prisoners behind.
After the war ended, Edmonds returned home to Knoxville, Tennessee. He died at the age of 65 on August 8, 1985.
Ret. Command Sgt. Mgr. Terry P. Richardson (L) is presented the Medal of Honor by U.S. President Donald Trump during a Medal of Honor Ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 02, 2026.
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Terry P. Richardson, retired, awarded the Medal of Honor
Staff Sergeant Terry P. Richardson received the Medal of Honor for his heroism on September 14, 1968, while serving near Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam with the 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division..
During a reconnaissance mission, Richardson came under heavy machine gun fire and, in the ensuing battle, on three occasions rescued three severely wounded soldiers. After returning to his company, he found they were completely surrounded, so Richardson braved the heavy fire and to get to the top of a hill to call in air strikes.
After the enemy forces fled, Richardson was found alive and declined medical evacuation to stay with his fellow soldiers. His bravery that day saved the lives of 85 fellow soldiers.
Richardson retired from the Army as a command sergeant major on July 31, 2008, at Camp Grayling, Mich.
Linda Ollis and Robert Ollis accept the Medal of Honor on behalf of their son Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, U.S. Army by U.S. President Donald Trump during a Medal of Honor Ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 02, 2026. (Photo by …
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously
Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic efforts when he saved the life of a Polish army officer.
Ollis, a Staten Island, New York, native, was deployed to Afghanistan with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, New York.
On Aug. 28, 2013, insurgents launched an attack against Forward Operating Base Ghazni. During the battle, Ollis connected with Polish Army Lt. Karol Cierpica, who had sustained injuries to his legs and was unable to walk. They were at the base’s perimeter, when an insurgent wearing a suicide vest confronted them. Ollis used his body to shield Cierpica and shot the insurgent, but the suicide vest detonated, killing Ollis. He was 24 years old.
U.S Army Staff Sgt. Michael Harold Ollis’ parents, Robert and Linda Ollis, sister Kelly Manzolillo, and the Polish Army officer whose life he saved, Lt. Karol Cierpika, joined to unveil his portrait and memorial plaque tribute during a ceremony to re …
The Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest award for military valor in action. It is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own lives above and beyond the call of duty while:
- Engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
- Engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
- Serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
To learn more about the Medal of Honor, visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by The White House, the U.S. Army, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. This story was reported from Orlando.