In a ceremony that honors the pinnacle of military valor, President Donald Trump will present the nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, to three exceptional American soldiers on March 2. These awards recognize acts of bravery that went far beyond the call of duty during World War II, the Vietnam War, and the conflict in Afghanistan.
The White House announced that Master Sgt. Roddie W. Edmonds will receive the honor posthumously for his actions as a prisoner of war in Germany from January 27 to March 30, 1945. Upon arriving at Stalag IXA in Ziegenhain, Edmonds faced a chilling Nazi order demanding Jewish-American prisoners separate themselves, under threat of execution. Sensing the imminent danger to over 200 Jewish comrades, he ordered all 1,200 American POWs to stand together in solidarity.
When the furious Nazi commandant pressed a pistol to his temple, demanding the Jewish prisoners be identified or face death, Edmonds stood firm. He warned that killing him would constitute a serious war crime. His unyielding resolve forced the officer to back down without harming any prisoners.
Weeks later, as Allied forces advanced, Edmonds led a resistance that prevented the Germans from evacuating the camp. He instructed prisoners to break formation and return to barracks, compelling the guards to flee and leaving the Americans safely behind.
Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis earns his Medal posthumously for his actions on August 28, 2013, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan. During a sophisticated enemy assault involving IEDs, suicide bombings, indirect fire, and small arms, Ollis quickly directed fellow soldiers to safety bunkers. He then braved danger to check on the wounded inside a building.
As insurgents breached the perimeter, Ollis, armed only with a rifle alongside a coalition officer, led a fierce counterattack. His leadership blunted the assault, saving numerous lives. In the chaos, a rebel closed in; Ollis shielded the wounded officer, firing and neutralizing the attacker, but perished from the suicide vest detonation.
Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson (Ret.) is honored for his valor on September 14, 1968, near Loc Ninh in Vietnam. Under savage fire from a North Vietnamese battalion, he crossed heavy machine gun fire three times to rescue wounded men. Realizing his company was surrounded, he moved to Hill 222 to direct airstrikes, discovering it was an enemy regimental camp.
Wounded by sniper fire, Richardson orchestrated airstrikes for seven hours, refusing evacuation to ensure 85 comrades survived.
The Medal of Honor, established during the Civil War, has been awarded to over 3,500 service members for extraordinary heroism. Presented by the President in Congress’s name, it embodies the ultimate sacrifice for duty and country.