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Cass City Today
By the People, for the People
Trump Awards Medal of Honor to 3 Army Service Members
Two of the commendations were awarded posthumously at the White House ceremony.
Published on Mar. 2, 2026
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President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to three U.S. Army soldiers at the White House on Monday, celebrating heroes of old wars as he defended his launch of a new one. The recipients included a Vietnam War veteran, a soldier killed in action in Afghanistan, and a World War II prisoner of war.
Why it matters
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration presented by the U.S. government to members of the armed forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life in actual combat against an enemy of the United States. This ceremony highlights the bravery and sacrifice of American service members.
The details
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson was recognized for actions during the Vietnam War that were credited with saving the lives of 85 other service members. Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2013, was recognized for saving a Polish Army officer's life. Master Sgt. Roderick W. Edmonds, who died in 1985, was recognized for his leadership and resistance as a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II.
- On September 14, 1968, Richardson led a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam.
- On August 28, 2013, Ollis was killed in an attack on Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan.
- On January 26, 1945, Edmonds refused to identify Jewish-American POWs at a German camp during World War II.
The players
Terry P. Richardson
A retired Command Sergeant Major who was recognized for actions during the Vietnam War that saved the lives of 85 other service members.
Michael H. Ollis
A Staff Sergeant who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2013 while saving the life of a Polish Army officer.
Roderick W. Edmonds
A Master Sergeant who was recognized for his leadership and resistance as a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II.
Karol Cierpica
A Polish Army officer who was saved by Ollis during the attack on Forward Operating Base Ghazni.
Chris Edmonds
The son of Roderick W. Edmonds, who accepted the Medal of Honor on his father's behalf.
What they’re saying
“Bravery is amazing. You never really know who's brave and who's not until they're tested.”
— Donald Trump, President of the United States
“A soldier is not something you are from time to time. It is who you are forever.”
— Karol Cierpica, Polish Army Officer
“We are all Jews here.”
— Roderick W. Edmonds
The takeaway
This ceremony highlights the enduring bravery and sacrifice of American service members, with the Medal of Honor representing the highest recognition for those who go above and beyond the call of duty in combat. The stories of Richardson, Ollis, and Edmonds serve as powerful reminders of the heroism and leadership that has defined the U.S. military throughout history.
