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President Trump Honors Three U.S. Army Heroes at White House Medal of Honor Ceremony
Trump presents the nation’s highest military decoration to exemplary soldiers spanning World War II, Vietnam and Afghanistan
President Donald Trump presided over a solemn Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on Monday, where he bestowed the United States’ highest military decoration on three Army soldiers whose actions exemplified extraordinary courage and sacrifice.
The event brought together family members, fellow service members and international guests in recognition of valor spanning multiple eras of American military history.
Trump paid tribute to each honoree and underscored the enduring importance of honoring those who risked and, in some cases, gave their lives for their country.
Retired Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson was honored for his actions during the Vietnam War, in which his leadership and bravery on September 14, 1968, helped save the lives of at least eighty-five fellow service members during an intense reconnaissance mission near Loc Ninh.
Richardson’s steadfast courage under fire was celebrated as a timeless example of devotion to duty.
Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2013, received the Medal of Honor posthumously.
Ollis was recognized for shielding a Polish Army officer from a suicide bomber, sacrificing his life in the process and saving the lives of others on the battlefield.
His parents accepted the medal from the president, and a Polish officer whom Ollis saved attended the ceremony to commemorate his enduring impact.
Master Sergeant Roderick W. Edmonds, who died in 1985, was posthumously honored for his conduct as a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II. Edmonds refused orders to separate Jewish-American POWs for heinous treatment, instead insisting that “We are all Jews,” thereby protecting more than two hundred men and facing down hostile captivity to shield his comrades.
His son accepted the award on his behalf.
Trump’s remarks praised the honorees’ bravery and framed the ceremony as an enduring tribute to the values that bind the nation.
He also referenced contemporary national security developments, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to supporting its service members and defending freedom at home and abroad.
The ceremony further highlighted the deep respect afforded to America’s military traditions and the profound legacy of those who have served with distinction across generations.
The event brought together family members, fellow service members and international guests in recognition of valor spanning multiple eras of American military history.
Trump paid tribute to each honoree and underscored the enduring importance of honoring those who risked and, in some cases, gave their lives for their country.
Retired Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson was honored for his actions during the Vietnam War, in which his leadership and bravery on September 14, 1968, helped save the lives of at least eighty-five fellow service members during an intense reconnaissance mission near Loc Ninh.
Richardson’s steadfast courage under fire was celebrated as a timeless example of devotion to duty.
Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2013, received the Medal of Honor posthumously.
Ollis was recognized for shielding a Polish Army officer from a suicide bomber, sacrificing his life in the process and saving the lives of others on the battlefield.
His parents accepted the medal from the president, and a Polish officer whom Ollis saved attended the ceremony to commemorate his enduring impact.
Master Sergeant Roderick W. Edmonds, who died in 1985, was posthumously honored for his conduct as a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II. Edmonds refused orders to separate Jewish-American POWs for heinous treatment, instead insisting that “We are all Jews,” thereby protecting more than two hundred men and facing down hostile captivity to shield his comrades.
His son accepted the award on his behalf.
Trump’s remarks praised the honorees’ bravery and framed the ceremony as an enduring tribute to the values that bind the nation.
He also referenced contemporary national security developments, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to supporting its service members and defending freedom at home and abroad.
The ceremony further highlighted the deep respect afforded to America’s military traditions and the profound legacy of those who have served with distinction across generations.