Army: US Soldier Was Killed Saving Afghan Girl

A 29-year-old soldier from Rhode Island was fatally run over in Afghanistan as he saved a young Afghan girl, say the US Army and state National Guard. As CNN recounts the story, Dennis Weichel's convoy had to stop because kids were in the road. Weichel left his vehicle to shoo them away, but one young girl remained collecting shell casings in the road. As a 16-ton armored vehicle bore down on her, Weichel moved her to safety but was himself run over, says CNN.

Rhode Island's WPRO has a slightly different take on the particulars of the accident, but the gist is the same: Weichel was killed trying to move the girl to safety. “He would have done it for anybody,” says Staff Sgt. Ronald Corbett. “That was the way he was. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was that type of guy.” And as the Army no doubt hopes people will notice, not this type of guy. (More US military stories.)