White House approves Medal of Honor for fallen Army Staff Sgt Michael Ollis after years-long push

The White House has approved the Medal of Honor for fallen Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, a Staten Island, New York, native who died in Afghanistan in 2013, while shielding an allied soldier, according to Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., who said she was notified of the decision in a statement posted to social media.

The decision follows years of advocacy from veterans' groups, elected officials and the Staten Island community to formally recognize Ollis’ actions, which supporters have long...