We've lost our legend:Staff Sgt. Olaf Schmid

We've lost our legend: Tributes for hero bomb expert Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid killed in Afghanistan

By Chris Hughes 3/11/2009

He saved countless lives as he defused 64 Afghan bombs. He died doing the job he loved.. days before he was due home


A crack bomb expert who saved scores of lives as he defused 64 Taliban devices was killed as he tried to dismantle yet another.

Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid, 30, paid the ultimate sacrifice just a week before he was due home on leave.

Yesterday, he was hailed as "a legend" as senior officers paid tribute to the nerveless courage that had prevented casualties on countless occasions.

His CO, Lt Col Robert Thomson of 2 Rifles Battle Group, said: "He saved lives in 2 Rifles time after time and for that he will retain a very special place in every heart of every rifleman in our Battle Group. Superlatives do not do the man justice. Better than the best."
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Tributes for hero bomb expert Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid