Great Britain Loses One of its Finest
by Michael Yon
Olaf in Combat.
03 November 2009
British soldiers at war are an incredible group. Courageous, competent, and committed in very difficult conditions. An email came today from London, from a BBC correspondent who has been to Afghanistan saying that Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid had been killed.
To see the article in the BBC was deeply saddening: Soldier Killed While Defusing 65th Bomb.
On a side note, the British soldiers are conservative. Though this is not very important, it’s difficult to imagine that Olaf had only destroyed 64 bombs before being killed. Just on this single mission, during which all these photos were taken, and during the surrounding few days, his crew must have destroyed several dozen bombs. You had to be there. By the time the mission in these photos happened, the crew was very experienced.
Courage is as common as boots among these soldiers, but Olaf stood out even in that company. You could tell that Olaf knew his business from mean experience, and that he was ready for battle. His mind was very quick.
His crew was competent and confident, and worked faster to clear bombs than any I had seen. If not, the soldiers could never have completed this mission, because there simply were too many bombs. They say all beekeepers get stung, but these are not bees. These soldiers were facing an extraordinary number of bombs and booby-traps that are designed to kill the team.
According to the Oxford Mail:
During the course of his tour, he attended 41 tasks, rendered safe 64 IEDs and attended 11 finds of bomb-making equipment.
The married father-of-one lived with his family in Winchester. His wife Christina said: “Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless five-month tour.”
Olaf was lost on his last mission. The enemy are blowing up civilians everywhere, and taking a toll on our folks.
According to the BBC:
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Thomson, commanding officer of 2 Rifles Battle Group, said: “Staff Sgt Oz Schmid was simply the bravest and most courageous man I have ever met.”
“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.”
According to the Oxford Mail,
Lt Col Robert Thomson, the commanding officer of the 2 Rifles Battle Group, said: “Staff Sgt Oz Schmid 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 opened the Pharmacy Road and 24 hours later, found 31 IEDs in one go on route Sparta. Every single company in 2 Rifles adored working with him.”
They really did. Everybody liked to see not just Olaf, but his entire great team. The mission succeeded that day. For more about the lives, and missions of these excellent soldiers, please read Bad Medicine.
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28 Comments
The British soldiers are heroic and under appreciated by the British Gov. What is it about Liberal Governments
they send there best out to defend their countries and seem to care less about their welfare. Brown like Barrack
is a selfish worthless specimen and one of the worst leaders in recent history.
I'm so sorry for Olaf's family. Thank you for posting this tribute. We don't hear enough about the British troops.
I did an interview once with a member of the NY bomb squad who had survived after a bomb he was diffusing exploded in his face. I won't go into the extent of his injuries; they were horrific. I was really impressed by his bravery and the fact that he was never bitter after the accident. I wish Olaf had survived. His family sounds remarkable. My prayers go out to them.
God Bless you Sergeant Schmid. R.I.P.
The American people and the Afghani people join with the British publicin appreciation this brave man's sacrifice… and that of his family.
This is a man truly worthy of praise, adulation, respect and honor, though he has lived and died in near total obscurity.
Such a stark contrast with the multitudes of arrogant, selfish, cowardly, low-life hippocrate liars who think only of themselves and are so quick to ridicule those who live by their convictions and know full well the difference between right and wrong. We know who they are every time they open up their filthy mouths and spew forth their worthless thoughts and ideas.
My Dad, a WWII airborne type, said he had nothing but respect for the British fighting man. RIP Sargent Schmid.
It is always sad to hear of a hero die– words are not enough to express the sadness. I hope this news spreads out, his family needs to know there is a world out there who is in mourning with them. I am very very sorry for your loss!
Anger maybe is a better tool for this time… US, UK and all of EU– wake up, because tomorrow you won't have a country. Then the deaths of your heroic Soldiers would be in vain. For any CIC- when the Troops are engaged somewhere, these Soldiers need your full backing, and whole heart of the people these soldiers represent. In UK, as it is in America- CIC, i fyou cannot give your soldiers the full support, pull them out. Their lives are important to us therir families!
To Christina and their child,
There is absolutely nothing I can say that will console the pain in your hearts. Your husband and father was taken from you too soon.
I grieve with you, for this man was also protecting me and mine…
I will do all in my power to insure the children I raise are the equal of character, honor, and duty as this man…
On My Honor…
Read "The Creature from Jekyll Island." All will be clear.
EOD Tech's are the unsung hero's of our current wars in A-stan and Iraq, and clearly Oz was one of the best.
I hope her Majesty the Queen at least honor's this hero has he richly deserves. If this man was US he should get the Medal of Honor, I'm not certain what the equal is in UK, but I pray he recieves it. As a veteran myslef, I HUGELY appreciate the incredibly important, and terribly dangerous job the EOD guys do daily.
My next pint will be in the honor of SSG Olaf "Oz" Schmid, may he rest in peace in the hall of heroes.
God bless his family as well.
PS – And God bless Michael Yon for telling it like it is. Love you man.
Staff Sgt Oz Schmid you saved many lives and the world can never say Thank You enough. You have Honored all of us, it is time for you to rest in peace.
No Fear, brave EOD warrior.
The British equivalent to the Medal of honour is the Victoria Cross (VC) unfortunately it can only be awarded for acts of heroism in actual combat with the enemy (The very few that are given out are mostly awarded posthumously, there is only 1 serving soldier who currently holds one). He will probably and should get the George Cross, considered the equal of the VC but awarded for outstanding acts of bravery and courage to servicemen not directly in combat with the enemy.
"At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them"
I thought it was the Victoria Cross, but was reluctant to be wrong.
Considering a bomb, placed by an enemy combatant, intending to kill servicemen to NOT be combat suggests it might be time to update the definition of "combat" in the UK.
Regardless, I will pray that Oz get's the George Cross.
Personally, I will remember him "At the going down of the sun and in the morning…"
When I'm in London in December, I'll drink at least one pint in his honor, and I'll try to find a Brit soldier to share a pint with me as tribute.
Thank you for the reply and the correct information.
God save the Queen, and Bless Great Britain as our best and staunchest ally.
I grew up in a military family and have, my entire life, held in great esteem, those who fight not just for their own freedom and that of their family, but for people they've never met…no matter which country's flag is on their arm.
Staff Sgt. Oz Schmid you have made the entire world proud and you deserve to have some peace now. RIP
There is a reason we are such good allies with the British. Being our forefathers and kinsmen as well as our enemy at one time makes the bonds that much stronger. We see ourselves in them and hold them as brothers and fathers still. May we always hold men such as Staff Sgt Oz Schmid in high regard.
"..the Afghani people" I think that's a stretch. Another soldier dies, most couldn't care less.
Fallen But Never Forgotten.
God Bless You, Staff Sergant Olaf Schmid.
Staff Sgt Oz Schmid.
How many you've joined on their last day in the field? You took one there so we wouldn't take one here and there was no confusion in your mind about what this war was all about, none whatsoever..
Worse than that, they celebrate every death of the brave soldiers over there that are keeping that country from descending into hell and tearing itself apart.
Evvery man serving over there is already a hero. I am just saddened that that is only recognized when they don't come back.
RIP Staff Sgt Oz Schmid, when your boots hit the sand you became a hero, now it is time to be celebrated as one. I salute you and your service. God Bless you sir.
He was a hero and he and his family have my prayers.
But my minds races, even without high tech robots all you should need is –
Three to four hundred feet of wired remote, a little wagon loaded with a few pounds of explosives.
Lay this out away from the IED.
Walk way around with the other end of the line so the line pulls the wagon towards the IED when you pull it close you take cover and set the explosive off. You can even rig a timer if you need to get further away for the truly huge IED's..
So, the total monetary outlay is only a few hundred bucks tops – it's all very low tech and nobody ever gets within range of being blown up.
Maybe this can't be done every time, but the IED removal manual should state you never EVER get close enough to get killed and if you can't work that out somehow by yourself you call in some sort of strike – aircraft, helicopter, tank, armored car, anti-tank missile, heavy machine gun, sniper with incendiary round – whatever you can get that can reach out and whack it.
I don't know, these guys are all so great and well trained so I must be missing something I'm just a Dumbo.
All I know is, for myself that's how I'd be going at the task and its makes me mad a good man is gone and it makes no sense to me.
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Thank you for posting this I intend to alert a few friends to read it. Truly a great and courageous man. RIP.
Sorry, but while many of them undoubtably do, all you have to do is to visit the major population centers under Allied control while incognito to see that many of them do indeed appreciate the sacrifices we are making to try and unify and liberate them from centuries of barbarity.
Don't sell them short.
But Mr. Yon, haven't you heard, these soldiers are not the heroes! The true heroes are the ones who stay behind on some petty technicality (I'm gay, I'm lesbian, I'm a conscientious objector, I just joined to take advantage of the GI bill and never expected to actually earn it) and publicly condemn the sacrifices of those who are ostensibly their brothers in arms! Haven't you gotten the memo?
When I started reading this article, I had no idea that by the time I finished, tears would sting my eyes. Another good man, brave soldier, husband, father … putting his life on the line and dying to keep us safe. My tears are mostly of sadness for the child who will never personally know the hero who is his father, and for the people whose lives were touched by him.
But some of my tears are from utter frustration and anger over those Americans who live, eat and sleep safely in their homes thanks to men like Staff Sgt. Schmid ~ and spend their days doing everything than can to tear down our country. People like Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Barack Obama, Michael Moore, Sean Penn, Keith Olbermann, Katie Couric, etc. I understand freedom of speech, and the rights of the press. Doesn't mean it doesn't make me burning mad now and then.
RIP, Staff Sgt. Schmid. And THANK YOU.
Thank you to each and every one of you who have written about my friend Oz. He was truly a great man with a huge heart, not only for his family and friends but for the love of the job. He loved doing what he did and died fighting for his country and everyone else's too. Your kind words mean alot and make me even more proud to have known such a wonderful hero. God bless you Oz – RIP. Belinda x
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