Spc. Dennis Weichel, 29, of Providence, Rhode Island, died saving the life of a little girl in Afghanistan.
Posted on 03/31/2012 4:03:04 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
After the news of a U.S. soldier charged with murdering Afghan civilians, mostly women and children, the story of Spc. Dennis Weichel of the Rhode Island National Guard bears telling.
The official Pentagon news release says he died "from injuries suffered in a noncombat related incident." But there is much more to the story. Weichel, 29, of Providence, died saving the life of a little girl.
According to the Rhode Island National Guard and the U.S. Army, Weichel was in a convoy a week ago with his unit in Laghman Province, in northeast Afghanistan. Some children were in the road in front of the convoy, and Weichel and other troops got out to move them out of the way.
Most of the children moved, but one little girl went back to pick up some brass shell casings in the road. Afghan civilians often recycle the casings, and the girl appeared to aim to do that. But a Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle was moving toward her, according to Lt. Col. Denis Riel of the Rhode Island National Guard.
MRAPs, as they are known, usually weigh more than 16 tons.
Weichel saw massive truck bearing down on the girl and grabbed her out of the way. But in the process, the armored truck ran him over, Riel said.
The little girl is fine. Weichel died a short time later of his injuries.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
Spc. Dennis Weichel, 29, of Providence, Rhode Island, died saving the life of a little girl in Afghanistan.
God Bless this fine man. His family raised a righteous and brave warrior. I am just amazed that he gave his life for this little girl.
Amen.
I’d like to live in a country where this story would get infinitely more hits and comments than the death of some gang banger wannabe.
We are so blessed as our country by this soldiers sacrifice. God bless his wife and children with grace and peace of life.
In the blink of an eye, a soul gives all it is worth, nothing is held back, the soul gives.
EL
And sadly, most people in Afghanistan would consider him an utter fool.
And that is why we can not “nation build” there. The gap is just too large.
Prayers up for Specialist Weichel and his family.
I agree. A sad story.
The saved child may not understand either, but the Creator does.
Thank you for paying tribute to this hero. We sleep safe at night thanks in no small part to men such as Spc. Weichel.
Prayers for this brave man’s family.
Is it so unusual for an American to do this?
Not really, it’s who we are.
RIP.
typical of american soldiers, our female soldiers are more “men” tham almost all arab and muzzie males.
When will the protest start for now the family of the girl won’t get death benefits!
Ping...
God remembers.
Thank you for posting, EV.
@PGR88 - Not quite true. Drop me a FReepmail if interested.
Above and beyond the call of duty........
Your words are among the most beautiful I’ve ever read or heard. I did a google search in quotes in case you were not the author, and this thread was the only item that came up.
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