( CNN ) -- After the news of a U.S. soldier charged with murdering Afghan civilians , mostly women and children , the story of Spc . Dennis Weichel of the Rhode Island National Guard bears telling . The official Pentagon news release says he died `` from injuries suffered in a noncombat related incident . '' But there is much more to the story . Weichel , 29 , of Providence , died saving the life of a little girl . According to the Rhode Island National Guard and the U.S. Army , 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 . `` He was a big kid at heart . He always had a smile on his face , and he made everyone laugh , '' 1st Sgt . Nicky Peppe , who served with Weichel in Iraq , is quoted as saying in an Army story . `` But as much as Weichel was funny , he was also a professional . When it was time to go outside the wire for a combat patrol , he was all business . '' Rhode Island Gov . Lincoln Chafee has ordered flags in the state lowered to half-staff until Weichel , who was posthumously promoted to sergeant , is laid to rest Monday . Weichel is survived by his parents , his fiancee and three children . His family will receive Weichel 's Bronze Star and other awards for his sacrifice .
Spc . Dennis Weichel was in a convoy in Laghman Province . He and his unit were ambushed by Taliban, he died of wounds on the way to hospital. Weichel moved the girl but was run over by the truck . Rhode Island governor orders flags flown at half-staff .