STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — President Donald Trump called the Ollis family Tuesday evening to inform them that U.S. Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, a Staten Island hero, will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

A family video posted by the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation on Facebook captured the moment the commander-in-chief informed the Ollis family of the approval.

As the video starts, Robert Ollis, 78, can be seen holding a phone in the kitchen of his New Dorp home.

Robert is informed by someone from Trump’s office that the president is calling for him.

Robert, who is wearing a SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation sweater, thanks the representative for delivering the “wonderful” news of the call. After another moment, Trump’s voice is heard asking for both Robert and Linda, Michael’s 76-year-old mother.

Both of them can be heard greeting the president.

“We’re very nervous,” Robert replied with a laugh after the president asked how the couple was doing.

“You should be, because your son is going to get the highest honor that you can have. There is no higher honor than the Congressional Medal of Honor.”

At this news, Robert’s eyes widen and he expresses a look of surprise before smiling.

“Michael is going to be — he’s looking down at you right now, he’s saying ‘well my mom and dad are handling this pretty well,’” the president added.

Robert and Linda thank Trump in response.

“You have no idea the happiness we have,” Robert said.

“Thank you for facilitating this, this is so wonderful of you. We are so thrilled because we’ve been working on it for so long and spoke to so many people, but you made it happen,” Linda told the president.

Trump then asked the parents if they let people know about their “boy,” to which the parents confirmed that they have.

“Good, that’s good,” Trump said. “Otherwise how are we going to know, right? You know, people don’t know. So I think that’s fantastic. Well you did a good job and he did an even better job, right?”

The president then informed the family that they will be invited to the White House for a ceremony for “a few of them,” described by the president as “all brave people.” It is unclear at this time who the president was referring to.

“But I read what your son did and it’s — I wouldn’t do it, Linda, I wouldn’t do it, okay?” Trump said with a laugh.

“I’m not brave enough either,” Linda replied.

“Neither am I, even though I’m a Vietnam vet, I still wouldn’t have done it,” Robert added.

Trump noted that Michael was a “beautiful looking guy” and told the parents that he just read their son’s story.

“I will see you at the White House soon,” Trump tells the family.

To this, Michael’s sister, Kimberly Loschiavo, responded:

“Yes! We’re going to the White House. We love you. We’re praying for you every day. Yes, let’s do this. MAGA.”

Trump then encourages Robert and Linda to bring the family down and to “go celebrate” before reminding them that Michael is proud of them.

The call ends with Robert visibly smiling and Kimberly yelling with joy.

A hero’s sacrifice

SSG Michael Ollis, a New Dorp resident, was killed at the age of 24 on Aug. 28, 2013, during a Taliban attack on Forward Operating Base Ghazni, while serving with Bushmaster Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. During the assault, Ollis placed himself between a suicide bomber and a Polish allied officer, shielding the officer from the full force of the explosion and sacrificing his own life.

Witnesses have said Ollis’ actions not only saved the life of Polish Army 2nd Lt. Karol Cierpica but also helped preserve the lives of more than 40 military and civilian personnel on the base.

The push to upgrade Ollis’ Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor gained renewed momentum in 2025, drawing bipartisan support from politicians and the backing of the Richmond County American Legion.