Rhode Island Guardsman died saving Afghan girl:
According to the Rhode Island National Guard and the U.S. Army, [Spc. Dennis] 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.
Via WPRI:
Accolades pour in for fallen RI soldier: wpri.com
His death makes this video from last Christmas all the more emotional:
Local soldier gets home for holidays: wpri.com
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