Camaraderie of Courage

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day and every day, we remember and honor all of the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Country🇺🇸. Please join us in remembering and honoring our 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, fallen today.

⭐️SSG Omar Aceves⭐️SGT Brandon Adams⭐️SSG Jesse Ainsworth⭐️SGT Lonnie Allen JR⭐️SPC Brian Anderson⭐️SPC Justin Antisdel⭐️SGT Paul Atim⭐️PFC Jose Belmontes⭐️PV2 Joseph Blake⭐️PFC Brian Bradbury⭐️SPC Armer Burkart⭐️SSG Christopher Cabacoy⭐️PV2 Christopher Castaneda⭐️PFC Eric Clark⭐️SPC Junot Cochilus⭐️SPC Justin Coleman⭐️PVT Isaac Cortes⭐️PFC Nicholas Cournoyer⭐️SSG Carletta Davis⭐️PFC Justin Davis⭐️CPL Preston Dennis⭐️SGT Jeremy Depottey⭐️PFC Jackie Diener II⭐️SPC Alan Dikcis⭐️SPC Mark Downer⭐️SPC Robert Drawl JR⭐️SGT Shane Duffy⭐️SGT Russell Durgin⭐️2LT Seth Dvorin⭐️SGT Donald Edgerton⭐️SPC Jonathan Emard⭐️SGT Michael Esposito⭐️SFC Bobby Estle⭐️1LT Forrest Ewens⭐️SPC Clay Farr⭐️SGT Shawn Farrell⭐️LTC Joseph Fenty JR⭐️SGT Edward Frank II⭐️SGT Jameel Freeman⭐️SPC Chad Fuller⭐️SPC J. Adan Garcia⭐️PFC Benjamin Garrison⭐️CPL Rogelio Garza JR⭐️SSG Dennis Hansen⭐️SFC Todd Harris ⭐️CPL Joshua Harton⭐️SGT Edelman Hernandez⭐️SGT David Hierholzer⭐️CPT Roselle Hoffmaster⭐️PFC George Howell⭐️SPC Arturo Huerta-Cruz⭐️SPC Joshua Humble⭐️SSG Wesley Hunter⭐️SPC Vincent Ibarria⭐️PFC John Johnson⭐️CPT Ben Keating⭐️PFC John Kihm⭐️CPL Jarrid King⭐️SGT Michael Kirspel JR⭐️SSG Anthony Lagman⭐️PFC James Lambert⭐️SPC Patrick Lay II⭐️SGT Cody Legg⭐️SSG Dwayne Lewis⭐️SSG John Linde⭐️SSG Eric Lindstrom⭐️SGT Dale Lloyd⭐️PFC Reuben Lopez⭐️SSG Patrick Lybert⭐️SGT Terry Lynch⭐️SGT Anthony Maddox⭐️PV2 Giovanny Maria⭐️SSG Shawn McCann⭐️SPC Alexander Miller⭐️SPC Jeremiah Monroe⭐️SFC Jared Monti⭐️SPC Benjamin Moore⭐️PFC Brian Moquin JR⭐️SGT Darby Morin⭐️SPC Jordan Morris⭐️SFC James Moudy⭐️PFC Adam Muller⭐️PFC Alex Oceguera⭐️SPC Justin O'donohoe⭐️SSG Michael Ollis⭐️PFC Evan O'Neill⭐️SGT Michael Paranzino⭐️PFC Charles Persing⭐️SSG Tyler Pickett⭐️SPC Joel Ramirez⭐️CPL Fernando Robinson⭐️SPC Richard Rosas⭐️PFC Theodore Rushing⭐️2LT David Rylander⭐️SFC Charles Sadell⭐️SGT Ian Sanchez⭐️SPC Jeremiah Sancho⭐️PFC Kerry Scott⭐️1LT Robert Seidel⭐️SPC Joshua Sheppard⭐️MAJ Douglas Sloan⭐️PFC Andrew Small⭐️PFC Stephen Snowberger III⭐️PFC Clinton Springer II⭐️SPC Derek Stenroos⭐️PFC Jack Sweet⭐️PFC Nathan Thacker⭐️1LT Joseph Theinert⭐️PFC Adam Thomas⭐️SPC David Timmons JR⭐️2LT Richard Torres⭐️CPL Angelo Vaccaro⭐️SGT Timothy Van Orman⭐️SPC Andrew Wade⭐️SPC James Waters⭐️SPC Abraham Wheeler⭐️SPC Blake Whipple⭐️PFC James White JR⭐️SPC Christopher Wilson⭐️PFC Brian Wolverton⭐️PFC Edwin Wood⭐️CPL Charles Wren⭐️SSG Nathan Wyrick⭐️

04/29/2026

The 2026 SSG Ollis 5K Run & Walk is on Sunday June 14, 2026. It includes the following events: 5K Run & Walk, Triple Crown Registration, Volunteer, and Virtual Run.

04/27/2026

Our 2026 Camaraderie of Courage Scholarship and Bill and Ledgerwood Scholarship are LIVE and ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!

All applicants must be affiliated (past or present) with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

Application deadline is 11:59PM EST on 15 July 2026. Please visit our website to apply and see the full list of requirements.
www.camaraderieofcourage.org

04/10/2026

Honoring the life and legacy of Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis. 🇺🇸

A Staten Island native and United States Army Soldier, Staff Sgt. Ollis gave his life in Afghanistan in 2013 while protecting a Service Member from a su***de bomber—a courageous act of selflessness that saved another life.

For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services joins family, friends, and the Staten Island community in remembering his courage, his service, and the enduring example he leaves behind.

We invite all who wish to pay their respects to attend this special observance:

📍 SSG Michael Ollis VFW Post #9587
575 Mill Road, Staten Island, NY 10306
📅 Saturday, May 16, 2026
🕥 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
RSVP details in the accompanying flyer.

04/01/2026

03/25/2026

Today, we honor and recognize those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service of their Nation.

Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 28 August 2013, while serving as an Infantryman with Company B, 2d Battalion, 22d Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan. On this date, a complex enemy attack involving multiple vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, su***de vests, indirect fire, and small arms fire was launched against Forward Operating Base Ghazni. Staff Sergeant Ollis ordered his fellow soldiers, who were located in a building, to move to bunkers to shield themselves from enemy fire. After accounting for his soldiers, he reentered the building to check for any casualties and then moved toward the enemy force that had penetrated the perimeter of the Forward Operating Base. Staff Sergeant Ollis located a Coalition Forces Officer, and together they moved toward the point of attack without their personal protection equipment and armed with only their rifles. Upon reaching the attack point, he and his comrade linked up with other friendly forces and began a coordinated effort to repulse the enemy from the airfield and adjacent buildings. While under continuous small arms, indirect, and rocket-propelled gr***de fire, Staff Sergeant Ollis and his comrades moved from position to position engaging the enemy with accurate and effective fire. Fighting along the perimeter of the Forward Operating Base, an insurgent came around a corner, whom Staff Sergeant Ollis immediately engaged with three rifle rounds. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Ollis positioned himself between the insurgent and the Coalition Forces Officer who had been wounded in both legs and was unable to walk. Staff Sergeant Ollis fired on the insurgent and incapacitated him, but as he approached the downed insurgent, the insurgent’s su***de vest detonated and mortally wounded him. Staff Sergeant Ollis’ exceptional courage and complete disregard of personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, and the United States Army.

Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2006. While Staff Sergeant Monti was leading a mission aimed at gathering intelligence and directing fire against the enemy, his 16-man patrol was attacked by as many as 50 enemy fighters. On the verge of being overrun, Staff Sergeant Monti quickly directed his men to set up a defensive position behind a rock formation. He then called for indirect fire support, accurately targeting the rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still directing fire, Staff Sergeant Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a gr***de, successfully disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol. Staff Sergeant Monti then realized that one of his Soldiers was lying wounded in the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol’s position. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Monti twice attempted to move from behind the cover of the rocks into the face of relentless enemy fire to rescue his fallen comrade. Determined not to leave his Soldier, Staff Sergeant Monti made a third attempt to cross open terrain through intense enemy fire. On this final attempt, he was mortally wounded, sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his fellow Soldier. Staff Sergeant Monti’s selfless acts of heroism inspired his patrol to fight off the larger enemy force. Staff Sergeant Monti’s immeasurable courage and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and the United States Army.

03/10/2026

03/02/2026

Today, during a ceremony at the White House, President Donald J. Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to three service members, two recognized posthumously, with their Medals received by family members on their behalf. Here, Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis’ parents accepted the Medal in honor of their son.

Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis was recognized for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on August 28, 2013, while serving as an Infantryman with Company B, 2d Battalion, 22d Infantry Regiment at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan.

That day, a coordinated enemy assault involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, su***de bombers, indirect fire, and small arms fire struck the base. As chaos unfolded, Staff Sergeant Ollis immediately directed his fellow Soldiers to bunkers for protection. After ensuring they were accounted for, he moved back toward the fight.

Without personal protective equipment and armed only with his rifle, he advanced alongside a Coalition Forces officer toward the breach in the perimeter. Under sustained small arms, mortar, and rocket-propelled gr***de fire, he maneuvered from position to position, engaging the enemy and helping repel the attack.

During the firefight, an insurgent suddenly engaged them at close range, wounding the Coalition officer. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Ollis stepped between the attacker and his wounded comrade. He returned fire and incapacitated the insurgent, but as he moved forward, the attacker’s su***de vest detonated, mortally wounding him.

His selfless action saved the life of another.

One Medal. Three generations of service. Three stories of extraordinary valor. Honor does not fade.

With today’s ceremony, there have now been 3,552 Recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor in combat. Of the fewer than 4,000 ever awarded, just 64 are living today.

03/02/2026

U.S. Army Medal of Honor Special Event Website. The President of the United States will award the Medal of Honor to several recipients for their heroic acts in defense of the nation.

02/06/2026