ijeditor | On 06, Apr 2012

A U.S. soldier made the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed saving an Afghan child two weeks ago. Most stories told from Afghanistan involve things that U.S. Soldiers get in trouble for — but stories like this one are out there and are rarely told.

Spc. Dennis Weichel, 29 of Providence, Rhode Island, was in a convoy in northeast Afghanistan when they came upon a large number of children in the street. Some soldiers, including Welchel, got out to move the children from the road, but one little girl stayed to collect brass shell casings from the road.

When a MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle) began to get closer and closer to the girl, Spc. Weichel ran and was able to push her out of the way, but was run over by the vehicle.

He passed away shortly after from his injuries. The little girl had no injuries.

Share this story to remind your friends of the good our soldiers do overseas.