[quote]Flags were lowered at half staff in Providence, R.I. for a soldier who died saving an Afghan girl.While riding in a convoy in Laghman Province in eastern Afghanistan Thursday, Spc. Dennis P. Weichel Jr., 29, and his unit, noticed children collecting shell casings on the road ahead, [URL="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/hero-u-s-soldier-gives-life-to-save-afghan-girl/"]ABC reports.[/URL]The soldiers urged the children to get out of the way, but one girl ran back to pick up more casings underneath a Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle -- a truck that can weigh more than 16 tons.To protect the girl from the massive vehicle, the Rhode Island National Guardsman lifted the girl out of the way, but the armored truck ran him over.Weichel later died from injuries he sustained and the girl survived, according to the news outlet."Specialist Dennis Weichel's life was marked by bravery, selflessness, and commitment to others -- and unfortunately it was in demonstrating these remarkable characteristics that it was lost," Governor Lincoln Chafee said, [URL="http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/providence/ri-soldier-spc-dennis-weichel-killed-in-afghanistan"]according to WPRI.[/URL]“And he will be remembered, and mourned, by people across our state as a great Rhode Islander.”Weichel was posthumously awarded the bronze star and is survived by his parents, fiancé and three children.[/quote]
[URL="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/spc-dennis-weichel-afghanistan_n_1388153.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D147792"]Source[/URL]
[IMG]http://i.huffpost.com/gen/550921/thumbs/s-DENNIS-large.jpg[/IMG]
R.I.P.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmO6BjSVFBQ[/media]
Just found a video that shows him being interviewed earlier before of him seeing his kids and then the news after he dies. The video is so sad especially seeing the kids so excited they are seeing his dad and how happy they are but now they won't see him ever again.
Well this is some shitty news to end the night for me.
I'm sad now.
Stories like this warm my heart.
News and picture made me really depressed.
Atleast it might warm the relations up between America and Afghanistan after the slaughter how ever many days ago
I'm somewhat glad that this happened, yet it's such a waste of a good life.
Damn, that thing with his kids makes it even more tragic.
What an awful way to go, I hope this war ends soon.
[QUOTE=AnalAnnihilator;35351455]Stories like this warm my heart.[/QUOTE]
And then continues to break it because his children and fiance will never see him again.
why were they collecting shell casings
why did the dumb kid run under a moving truck
[QUOTE=En-Guage V2;35351662]why were they collecting shell casings
why did the dumb kid run under a moving truck[/QUOTE]
They could probably sell those shell casings as valuable scrap. Things are not easy in Afghanistan compared to America.
[QUOTE=LADLEMAO;35351499]Atleast it might warm the relations up between America and Afghanistan after the slaughter how ever many days ago[/QUOTE]
Doubtful. The people that are lashing out like that wont hear about stuff like this. This kind of stuff happens frequently. Our troops saving or giving their lives for Afghans but it goes unheard of. If this story only gets mentioned for a single day in America I doubt it will get any traction in the war-torn middle east.
This is so heart-wrenching.
Sad thing is the Afghan people will not be thankful for this and continue to do revenge killings over stupid books.
He did the right thing to save someone, doing the right thing can be the hardest thing do to. But I feel as if it was such a waste, lets just leave that god forsaken place and let them rot in their own mess.
[QUOTE=En-Guage V2;35351662]why were they collecting shell casings
why did the dumb kid run under a moving truck[/QUOTE]
Kids pick shit up. These kids were born into a war environment. You mean to tell me you never fucked around outside picking up rocks as a kid?
wait, I don't understand why the truck couldn't stop.
This man is a true hero. His children and fiance will never see him again but his children had a noble, courageous father who put his own life to save the life of someone who's name he didn't even know.
I went on a military experience thing as a kid to see how my dad lived. We went to some unused part of the base where they fired off guns. Me and my friend spent forever picking up bullet shells just because they were cool.
Honestly, as an 18 year old if I found one on the ground right now, I'd pick it up. They are kinda cool.
[QUOTE=Sleepy Head;35351719]wait, I don't understand why the truck couldn't stop.[/QUOTE]
It takes a bit for a vehicle to stop, especially a 16 (I think that's what it said) ton vehicle. It could've been either unable to stop or didn't notice the girl.
Never smiling again.
Why save a girl who will probably get killed soon?
It's true, why the dumbs?
[QUOTE=MrBacon;35352341]Why save a girl who will probably get killed soon?[/QUOTE]
Well well, ain't you special.
[QUOTE=MrBacon;35352341]Why save a girl who will probably get killed soon?[/QUOTE]
Really? I mean....really?!
[QUOTE=MrBacon;35352341]Why save a girl who will probably get killed soon?
It's true, why the dumbs?[/QUOTE]
I kinda thought the same thing and I felt awful about it.
This article is touching and heartwrenching at the same time, I personally think giving your life to save anothers is one of the best ways to die, but not at 33.
[QUOTE=MrBacon;35352341]Why save a girl who will probably get killed soon?
It's true, why the dumbs?[/QUOTE]
Afghanistan might recognize this and it smooths relations, if you think about the few soldiers who are absolute cunts that are trying to burn what little ties we have left.
Also she's a little girl. She has a pretty decent chance of surviving in Afghanistan. The guy is a hero, no point questioning his actions. What's done is done, hope for the best.
[QUOTE=Sleepy Head;35351719]wait, I don't understand why the truck couldn't stop.[/QUOTE]
Newton's second law
[QUOTE=Sleepy Head;35351719]wait, I don't understand why the truck couldn't stop.[/QUOTE]
Law of Motion
[QUOTE=MrParalegal;35351594]And then continues to break it because his children and fiance will never see him again.[/QUOTE]
Well, at least they know their father/husband died doing a noble cause, and they can feel pride towards him.
It's one thing to hear your husband died in a war with a very grusome death from a stray explosive. It's another to hear he died to save a girl's life. It'll be hard for the family at first though, no doubt.
[QUOTE=MR-X;35351708]Sad thing is the Afghan people will not be thankful for this and continue to do revenge killings over stupid books.
He did the right thing to save someone, doing the right thing can be the hardest thing do to. But I feel as if it was such a waste, lets just leave that god forsaken place and let them rot in their own mess.[/QUOTE]
Woah woah let's not pretend that there isn't a massive amount of fucked up shit happening that gives a lot of people perfectly good justification to be angry at the occupying U.S.
[QUOTE=MrBacon;35352341]Why save a girl who will probably get killed soon?
It's true, why the dumbs?[/QUOTE]
Wow, that's cold.
Not a huge deal, but hopefully stuff like this can heal wounds between American and the Afghans, especially after the Koran burning and civilian killing spree.
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