Army sergeant from Staten Island died shielding soldier, report

STATEN ISLAND (WABC) -- New information about a soldier from Staten Island who was killed last month in Afghanistan describes his final heroic moments.

According to the Army Times, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis died while shielding a Polish solider from a suicide bomber.

The report says Ollis has been nominated for the Silver Star, which is the third-highest military decoration for valor.

The Polish officer credited Ollis, who was just 24 years old, with saving his life.

Ollis was laid to rest last Saturday, as a military honor guard carried the the flag-draped casket into the Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church in the New Dorp section.

Hundreds of people came to pay their respects, including many police officers and firefighters and members of Staten Island veterans' groups.

Ollis joined the Army in 2006. He served in Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan.

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