Bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan was on last day of tour.
From Times Online
November 2, 2009
Michael Evans, Defence Editor
Bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan was on last day of tour - Times Online
Bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan was on last day of tour.
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Olaf Schmid: had defused more than 64 roadside bombs.
The Army has lost another experienced bomb disposal specialist, with the death announced today of Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid who was killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device (IED) which he was trying to defuse.
He was on his last day of a five-month tour in charge of a team searching for IEDs in the Sangin region of Helmand province when it exploded.
Staff Sergeant “Oz” Schmid, 30, died instantly on Saturday while examining a number of IEDs found close to the British forward operating base at Sangin.
The Ministry of Defence said he had “a natural aptitude” for bomb disposal work, and had passed the course to become a “high threat operator” earlier this year. This qualified him to operate in Afghanistan - regarded as the pinnacle of a bomb disposal specialist’s career.
He was an ammunition technician by trade and served much of his career with the Commando Logistic Regiment of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. He was then posted to 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, and worked closely with special forces and police tactical firearms teams.
He deployed to Afghanistan in June and since then he had rendered safe 64 IEDs and was involved in 11 discoveries of bomb-making equipment.
Captain Shepherd had dealt with more than 50 IEDs during his tour of Afghanistan before he was killed.
In July Captain Daniel Shepherd, a member of the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group in Helmand was killed while on patrol during Operation Panther’s Claw - the offensive launched to clear central Helmand of Taleban insurgents.
Staff Sergeant Schmid was born in Truro, in Cornwall and joined the Army in 1996. He was married to Christina and had a step-son Laird, aged five. They lived in Winchester, in Hampshire.
In a tribute, his wife said: “Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless five-month tour. He was my best friend and soul mate. The pain of losing him is overwhelming. I take comfort knowing he saved countless lives with his hard work. I am so proud of him.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Thomson, commanding officer of 2 Rifles battle group to which Staff Sergeant Schmid was attached, said he was “simply the bravest and most courageous man I have ever met”.
“Under relentless IED and small arms attacks he stood taller than the tallest,” he said.
“I adored working with him. No matter how difficult or lethal the task which lay in front of us, he was the man who only saw solutions. 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 extraordinary battle group,” Colonel Thomson said.
“Superlatives do not do the man justice. Better than the best. Better than the best of the best. Our thoughts and prayers are with his beloved family,” he said.
Lieutenant-Colonel Gareth Bex, commanding officer of the Counter-IED Task Force of the Royal Logistic Corps, said: “Staff Sergant Oz Schmid was a brilliant operator and a superb soldier. We loved him like a brother. He was a much adored member of our close-knit family. The Army has been robbed of a superb talent.”
Bob Ainsworth, Defence Secretary, said his “bravery, skill and selfless commitment undoubtedly saved lives”.
