US soldier Staff Sergeant Ollis died shielding Polish officer from a suicide bomber during massive a - Polidicks

[quote]A Fort Drum, N.Y., soldier killed in Afghanistan died shielding a Polish soldier from a suicide bomber during an assault on their base that involved grenades, mortars, rockets and a 3,000-pound bomb. Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis, of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), stepped into the path of an unnamed Polish officer, blocking him from the suicide vest of an insurgent who had raided Forward Operating Base Ghazni. “In emotional interviews with investigators, the Polish officer repeatedly praised SSG Ollis and credited him with saving his life,” according to an Army account of the Aug. 28 action obtained by Army Times.[/quote] [quote]Meanwhile, Ollis — who first accounted for his men in a bunker — raced toward the bomb blast’s massive white smoke plume and the sound of gunfire. Ollis linked up with a Polish officer he did not know and then with a team of special forces soldiers who had killed eight of the insurgents wearing suicide vests. A ninth suicide bomber emerged from behind a group of containers, threw a grenade and was killed. A 10th emerged from behind some other containers near the Polish officer and Ollis, who was the closer of the two. “As Staff Sgt. Ollis stepped toward the insurgent, he stepped in front of the Polish officer, thereby blocking him,” when the insurgent’s vest detonated, according to the Army’s account.[/quote] [img]http://cmsimg.armytimes.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=M6&Date=20130917&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=309160041&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&Soldier-died-saving-Polish-officer[/img] [url=http://www.armytimes.com/article/20130917/NEWS/309160041/Soldier-died-saving-Polish-officer]Armytimes[/url] [editline]17th September 2013[/editline] The full story of the attack and his actions are in the article.

Wow, a true hero. Rest in peace.

Died to save a man he barely knew. That is what a real hero is made of.

shit dude... :(

If there is one way to die, it's to die saving someone. Selflessness in it's purist form. RIP

Damn.

Brave man. Braver than I.

I don't know how I could live if I was that polish guy. Knowing that some died for me and that I could be dead right now and questioning why...

[QUOTE=Widgeon;42229530]I don't know how I could live if I was that polish guy. Knowing that some died for me and that I could be dead right now and questioning why...[/QUOTE] Survivor's guilt is something they all have to deal with eventually. That's why some soldiers leave the army.

[QUOTE=Widgeon;42229530]I don't know how I could live if I was that polish guy. Knowing that some died for me and that I could be dead right now and questioning why...[/QUOTE] That's survivor guilt but even worse.

[QUOTE=Widgeon;42229530]I don't know how I could live if I was that polish guy. Knowing that some died for me and that I could be dead right now and questioning why...[/QUOTE] I think being incredibly thankful and making your life worth something is enough. I don't think that the person who died for you would want you to waste what he protected. Not saying it'd be easy, but that's what I'd try to do.

I have a friend who was stationed with the SSGT and was at the same base and area when this happened. I haven't really asked much from him but since he went all the up to NY (were from Florida) I assume they were close. Sucks a lot

Posthumous medal of honor in order here? What a freaking hero....hope that poor man rests in peace.

if allah is real, suicide bombers go to hell.

[QUOTE=Solo Wing;42230418]Posthumous medal of honor in order here? What a freaking hero....hope that poor man rests in peace.[/QUOTE] He's been nominated for the silver star.

Very commendable act there. Although I couldn't say most people, including myself, could do such a thing to save a complete stranger.