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Providence Guardsman dies saving child in Afghanistan

Son of Brockton man hit by truck while saving child

By Brian MacQuarrie

 |  Globe Staff  

  March 30, 2012

Fresh off the firing range in a dusty Afghanistan province east of Kabul, Specialist Dennis P. Weichel Jr. of Providence dismounted from a 16-ton gun truck to disperse children. Most moved, willing to wait to search for brass shell casings that could be recycled or melted. One girl, impatient, darted to collect a casing from beneath one of the vehicles. Weichel grabbed the girl and swung her to safety as the gun truck rumbled past. In that act, Weichel was struck and died.

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