Trio of Army Medal of Honor Recipients Inducted Into Pentagon's Hall of Heroes

March 3, 2026 | By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News |

Three Army noncommissioned officers who recently received the Medal of Honor were inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes today during a ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia.

The induction came one day after Master Sgt. Roderick W. Edmonds, Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson were awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald J. Trump during a ceremony at the White House.

Edmonds, a World War II veteran who passed away in 1985, and Ollis, who died in combat in 2013 during Operation Enduring Freedom, both received their medals posthumously; Richardson, a 78-year-old Vietnam War veteran who retired from the Army in 2008, attended both ceremonies.

"Today, we gather to honor three soldiers whose actions remind us that valor is not just a word etched in metal; it is a living testament to the courage and sacrifice that preserves and protects our great nation," Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll said during the ceremony.

"Each of these heroes went above and beyond the call of duty and placed their lives on the line for those that they loved — the soldiers to their left and their right, and to the very nation that they were born to," he continued.

During the ceremony, senior leaders as well as members of the recipients' families recounted the heroic and valorous acts each of the soldiers performed under intense, harrowing pressure.

Edmonds received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a prisoner of war during World War II, when he refused to identify Jewish-American soldiers to his German captors, saving them from likely persecution and death.

"The Nazi commandant was furious and ordered all non-Jews back in the barracks. Master Sgt. Edmonds calmly responded, 'We are all Jews here,'" Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy A. George explained during the ceremony.

"My dad was a soldier's soldier; he loved soldiers. … [He] was a praying man, and he closed all of our family prayers with, 'Dear Heavenly Father, help us help those who can't help themselves.' That's the value of a soldier … of one who marches for his country, for his family, for his friends, for his freedom [and] for the almighty," Chris Edmonds said of his late father's character.

Ollis earned the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan on Aug. 28, 2013, when the 24-year-old staff sergeant placed himself between an armed insurgent and a wounded coalition forces officer, ultimately saving the officer but losing his own life when the insurgent's suicide vest detonated.

"Staff Sgt. Ollis died in the blast, but he made sure his body shielded [the wounded officer] from further injury," George said of Ollis' actions, adding that he not only saved his teammate, but he helped stymie an attack that could have killed many others that day.

During the ceremony, Ollis' father, Bob, spoke of how his son had always known he wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a soldier.

Bob Ollis also recounted a story of how he received a phone call from his son roughly a month before he fell in battle. During that call, Ollis told his father that he had just reenlisted in the Army for an additional six years.

"He said, 'Pop, I'm going to give to the United States Army as long as I'm healthy.' … He had such a love for the United States Army that it was incredible," Bob Ollis said of his son.

Richardson received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam on Sept. 14, 1968, when he rescued three wounded soldiers while under heavy enemy fire.

He then proceeded to a hilltop — which turned out to be an enemy camp — and for seven hours, while wounded, directed airstrikes that caused the enemy to flee, thus saving the lives of 85 fellow soldiers.

"The men of [Richardson's unit] figured they would never see Staff Sgt. Richardson again. But, upon climbing the hill, [they] found him sitting on top of a rubber tree, bullet in his knee, ears bleeding — the embodiment of human endurance, grit and courage and an inspiration to them all," George explained of Richardson's heroics that day.

"For me, it's always been about putting soldiers first. … I invested in my soldiers; I knew every one of them. I knew what they needed, and I also knew their families back home, by what they told me," Richardson said during the ceremony.

"That's why I wear this Medal of Honor. It will never be [just] my own when I share it with my team," he added.

During the Hall of Heroes induction ceremony, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered remarks to the attendees remotely, praising the three inductees for the brave choices they made when faced with such adversity.

"The split-second decisions — sometimes made over hours — made by soldiers who we honor here today: what they decided ripples through time and still impacts lives today," Hegseth said, adding that nobody is born with the warrior ethos, but rather that it has to be taught, learned and forged through stories like those of the day's three honorees.

"We thank our Heavenly Father for these men and the decisions they made," Hegseth added. "May we tell their stories forever."

DoW Identifies Army Casualties

March 3, 2026 |

The Department of War announced the death of four Army Reserve Soldiers who were supporting Operation Epic Fury.

Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, died on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack. All Soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa. The incident is under investigation.

For more information regarding Capt. Cody A. Khork; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, members of the media may contact U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office, Fort Bragg, N.C., at usarmy.usarc.usarc-hq.mbx.press-desk@army.mil.

Face of Defense: Aeromedical Nurse Practitioner Bridges Medicine, Mission

March 3, 2026 | By Air Force Airman 1st Class Amanda Alvarez, 325th Fighter Wing |

The small, brain-shaped coin felt heavier than its size, a quiet symbol of gratitude that brought tears as she recalled its meaning. It was a gift from an Air Force airman she once treated for lymphoma, presented to her after he not only completed treatment, but beat the cancer.

He honored his doctor by coining her — a tribute usually performed by senior leaders to recognize airmen. The gesture represented the trust placed in her during one of the most difficult moments of the airman's life. 

"This is my favorite coin, and it reminds me how special this [moment] was for both of us," said Air Force Maj. Elizabeth Kuss, 325th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron flight medicine flight commander. "I don't do this job to be thanked, but it was so special to be thanked in this way." 

The experience was shaped by a path she once believed she would never take; one she believed was not for her.

Air Force Maj. Elizabeth Kuss

Job: Aeromedical Nurse Practitioner

Stationed: Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

Unit: Air Force

Hometown: Prattville, Ala.

Wanting More 

Raised as an "Army brat" and surrounded by military service, Kuss had long resisted joining the military. Her father served for 30 years in the Army and for another 20 as a civilian supporting Army aviation, while her brother joined the Air Force in 2000. 

"I was the one saying, 'I'm not joining the military,'" she said, laughing. "Turns out my dad was right." 

By 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and nearing a milestone birthday, Kuss said she felt professionally stagnant. 

"I wanted more — personal growth and professional growth," she said. "I was asking myself, 'Is this it?'" 

The need for a new challenge is what drew her to military medicine. After nearly two decades working in emergency rooms in Alabama, Kuss became an Air Force nurse practitioner at 40 years old, trading night shifts and a familiar hospital system for operational medicine, intense training and a role few in uniform have ever filled. 

"I knew this was not going to be easy. This was not going to be a cakewalk kind of job," Kuss said. "But this is my dream job. I get to take care of the most amazing people while doing the things I love."

A Turning Point in Alaska

Inspired by Air Force nurse practitioners who were deploying, leading and operating far beyond the clinic, Kuss commissioned directly into the Air Force in 2021 as a family nurse practitioner. She was assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, which quickly became a turning point.

Within months, Kuss attended military mountain medicine training, climbing and rappelling with litters, navigating austere terrain and learning trauma care under simulated combat conditions. 

"They made it as real as possible and that was the moment I thought, 'This is what I signed up for,'" she said. "You don't get to do this [training] on the outside. It really solidified my decision to do this." 

After two years in active-duty medicine, she was selected for the Air Force's aeromedical nurse practitioner training pipeline, a career field that was created in 2019 to bridge the gap between medicine and mission. The pipeline included aerospace physiology, altitude chamber exposure, centrifuge training and flight operations. 

"The goal is to have a better understanding of what aviators and defenders go through," Kuss said. "Does this [medical] condition impact their ability to fly? Their ability to see screens? If I understand what duties they're undergoing, I can better understand how that might impact them medically." 

Beyond the Usual Care 

As an aeromedical nurse practitioner, Kuss does far more than traditional primary care. Her role spans occupational health, deployment clearances, public health and flight-related medical emergencies. Between these responsibilities, she also manages administrative tasks such as reviewing profiles, signing medical clearances and advising commanders on readiness risks. 

"It's always a balance," she said. "You're taking care of someone as a person, but you're also responsible for military readiness and mission safety, and asking yourself, 'Is it going to compromise the mission because they aren't able to perform their duties?'" 

Trust between the patient and provider sits at the core of Kuss' work as one of roughly 50 aeromedical nurse practitioners across the Air Force. In April 2024, she arrived at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, as the base's first aeromedical nurse practitioner, stepping into a role that brings both opportunity and pressure. 

"I want to show that we're value-added," she said. "I want to show that we support the mission and that as a [career field], we're needed. When I leave, I want them to say, 'We need another one.'" 

As an emerging career field, Kuss said aeromedical nurse practitioners often face misconceptions, including being underutilized or misunderstood. 

"People don't always know what we can do," she said. "That knowledge gap is probably the biggest barrier. With more exposure and time on the lines, we can break those barriers and learn how we fit within a squadron and how we can be an asset to the team."

Making an Impact 

For those who work with her, her impact and influence are already clear. 

"She's everything you'd want in a provider and a flight commander," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Smith, 325th OMRS flight operational medical technician. "She listens. She's empathetic. She treats everyone like a person first." 

Smith said Kuss' aeromedical expertise has been especially valuable during in-flight emergencies involving F-35A Lightning II pilots experiencing hypoxia-like symptoms. 

"Her being an aeromedical nurse practitioner makes all the difference sometimes," Smith said. "She already knows what's going on when it comes to altitude, aircraft systems, all of it. She's always clocked in with the engine running. 

"She's big on readiness because she knows if we don't take care of pilots and maintainers, the mission doesn't happen," Smith continued. "She sets the standard — anyone who comes into this role should look at her and say, 'That's what an aeromedical nurse practitioner should be.'" 

Looking ahead, Kuss hopes to deploy, support humanitarian missions and continue shaping a career field still defining itself. 

"I've only been in five years, and I've already done things I never imagined," she said. "And there's still so much more to do, so many more boxes I want to check off. I'm ready for whatever comes my way."

Medal of Honor Monday: Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jack Williams

March 2, 2026 | By Katie Lange, Pentagon News |

As a hospital corpsman in World War II's Pacific theater, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jack Williams' job was to save the lives of the Marines who fought around him. During the bloody Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, Williams saved more than a dozen Marines and sacrificed his own life so they could live. His selflessness led him to receive a posthumous Medal of Honor.

Williams was born Oct. 18, 1924, in Harrison, Arkansas, to William and Dorothy Williams. He had a younger sister named Fern.

During high school, Williams worked at a local theater and was a member of the Future Farmers of America. As World War II raged during his senior year, he registered in the Selective Service System but didn't wait to be drafted. As soon as he graduated in June 1943, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve.

Within a few months, Williams had completed training to become a hospital corpsman. By May 1944, he'd reached the rank of pharmacist's mate 3rd class and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division.

In late December 1944, the division deployed to Hawaii and began training for the invasion of Iwo Jima, a tiny island in the Pacific with strategic airfields that could better position the Allies for an assault on mainland Japan.

Williams' unit arrived off the volcanic island's coast in mid-February and was part of the first assault waves to land there. Over the next several days, the 28th Marines took part in efforts to isolate and secure Mount Suribachi, where the now-iconic photo of Marines raising a U.S. flag was taken.

On March 3, 1945, the unit had moved into rugged terrain to continue fighting an entrenched enemy. Williams had already given aid to more than a dozen wounded Marines, but when he saw his friend, Marine Corps Pfc. James Naughton, lying in no-man's-land after being wounded in a fierce grenade battle, he ran to him.

Williams dragged Naughton to a shallow depression and knelt to give him first aid, using his own body as a screen from the continued enemy fire, which hit Williams in the abdomen and groin three times.

Williams was momentarily stunned, but he quickly recovered and finished aiding Naughton before applying bandages to his own wounds.

Despite needing urgent medical attention himself, Williams continued his work. He stayed in the perilous, fire-swept area to help yet another Marine he found there. Through his pain and profuse bleeding, Williams dressed that man's wounds before trying to make his way to the rear of the fight to get aid for himself. Along the way, he was struck down by a Japanese sniper bullet.

Williams collapsed and later died, giving his life to help his fellow warfighters survive. For his sacrifice, he was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor, presented to his mother at the family home March 8, 1946.

Williams is buried in Springfield National Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.

In total, 27 Medals of Honor were awarded to men who fought on Iwo Jima, the most of any World War II battle. Aside from Williams, three other pharmacist's mates received the medal: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Junior Pierce, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class George Wahlen and Navy Petty Officer 1st Class John Willis.

To honor Williams, the Navy commissioned a guided missile frigate, the USS Jack Williams, in 1981. The ship was in service until 1996, when it was sold to Bahrain's navy. According to the Central Arkansas Library System's Encyclopedia of Arkansas, the ship's bell was removed after service and now resides in the lobby of the county courthouse in Harrison.

Just a few years ago, Williams' hometown also opened the Jack Williams Veterans Resource Center as a place to serve local veterans.