Defence minister Tomasz Siemoniak has met the family of American sergeant Michael H. Ollis, who died shielding a Polish soldier from a Taliban suicide bomber in August 2013.

From left: US Ambassador to Poland Stephen Mull, Staff Sgt Ollis's sister, mother Linda Ollis, father Robert Ollis, Polish Minister of Defence Tomasz Siemoniak, Staff Sgt Ollis's sister. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara

“We all remember that August day when the military base in Ghazni was attacked,” Siemoniak said at the meeting in Warsaw on Thursday morning.

“Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis showed the utmost heroism and dedication,” he added, noting that the American's actions had made “a huge impression” on the Polish public.

Siemoniak presented Staff Sgt. Ollis's family with four paintings representing each of the seasons in Poland.

US ambassador to Poland Stephen Mull also attended the meeting.

Last November, Staff Sgt. Ollis's parents were presented with the Afghan Star and Polish Army Gold Medal at the Polish consulate in New York as posthumous honours for their son.

Siemoniak noted on Thursday that the army also wanted to show the family the country which the soldier had made his sacrifice for.

Robert Ollis said that after having met the man his son had saved, Lieutemant Karol Cierpice, “I feel that he is not only a Polish soldier, but my brother and part of our family.

“He's a really wonderful man.”

Ten Poles were injured and one died as a result of the Taliban attack on the Ghazni base in late August 2013.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is due to pull out of the country by the end of 2014. (nh/pg)

source: PAP

