WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump recognized three U.S. Army soldiers with the Medal of Honor at the White House on Monday, with two of the commendations being awarded posthumously.
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 valor during the combat that resulted in his death.
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.
“There’s no ceremony that can be more important than this,” Trump said to begin the East Room ceremony that included the recipients’ family members.
The Republican president also used the ceremony to talk about his decision to launch a war in Iran, his immigration crackdown, expansion of the White House and decor he’s chosen at the executive mansion. On Iran, the president defended the preemptive action as necessary to block Tehran from rebuilding its nuclear program and becoming “an intolerable threat to the Middle East but also to the American people.”
The Medal of Honor is given by U.S. presidents, in the name of Congress, to recognize combat service that goes beyond the call of duty and risks one’s own life.
Richardson risked his life on Vietnam reconnaissance mission
On Sept. 14, 1968, Richardson was a staff sergeant on a reconnaissance mission as a platoon leader in the vicinity of Loc Ninh, part of the Republic of Vietnam.
According to his citation, Richardson came under fire from the North Vietnamese Army, including heavy machine gun fire as he rescued three wounded soldiers. After the rescues, he led his unit to its intended destination, a hilltop identified as a place to direct airstrikes. He found the location to be part of an enemy camp but remained for at least seven hours, directing strikes even after being wounded by a sniper.
Enemy forces eventually fled. Richardson, when found by other U.S. forces, declined medical evaluation so he could remain with his troops.
“His gallant and selfless actions on Sept. 14, 1968, spared the lives of 85 fellow soldiers,” the White House said.
Ollis was killed shielding someone else in Afghanistan attack
As a staff sergeant at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Ollis was a skilled infantryman who led soldiers during an attack on the base by enemy combatants on Aug. 28, 2013.
Ollis, 24 at the time, first directed soldiers to a bunker before returning to the building where they had been to check for any more endangered people, according to his citation. He came upon a Coalition Forces officer from Poland. They moved toward combatants who breached the base perimeter and joined other coalition forces.
During fighting, one enemy combatant came upon Ollis and the Polish officer.
“With complete disregard for his own safety, he positioned himself between the insurgent and the Coalition Forces Officer, who had been wounded and unable to walk,” his commendation reads. “Staff Sergeant Ollis fired on the insurgent and incapacitated him, but as he approached the insurgent, the latter’s suicide vest was denotated, mortally wounding him.”
Edmonds led resistance in POW camp during World War II
A master sergeant, Edmonds was the ranking officer among American prisoners of war at a German camp in early 1945.
According to the White House commendation, the Germans announced on Jan. 26, 1945, that “only Jewish-American prisoners would fall out for roll call the following morning, at the threat of execution.”
Edmonds determined on the following day that allowing that segregation would result in the torture or death of 200 Jewish-American POWs. He directed officers to have all 1,200 American troops present themselves for roll call.
With a German commandant enraged, Edmonds stood his ground and invoked prisoners’ rights under international law.
“We are all Jews here,” Edmonds said in a quote that Trump recounted Monday.
The German officer relented and made no further efforts to identify the Jewish American soldiers.
Weeks later, as Allied forces advanced toward the camp, the Germans ordered POWs to prepare for evacuation. Edmonds prepared the POWs to assemble in formation and resist. German forces eventually retreated from the camp.
“Without regard for his own life Master Sergeant Edmonds gallantly 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,” the White House said.
