Facts:   - death place: wardak province , afghanistan    - servicenumber: t1002840    - honorific suffix: nzgd    - battles: war in afghanistan    - death date: 28 september 2011      - placeofburial: whenua tapu cemetery    - awards: new zealand gallantry decoration    - birth date: 24 july 1978    - serviceyears: 1997 ; 2011 & ndash ; 1999 / 2005 & ndash    - name: leon kristopher smith    - branch: royal new zealand navy 20px new zealand army    - unit: new zealand special air service    - birth place: wellington , new zealand    - rank: ensign / lance corporal    - occupation: soldier   Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of leon kristopher smith .
Answer:
leon kristopher smith -lrb- 24 july 1978 -- 28 september 2011 -rrb- was posthumously awarded the new zealand gallantry decoration and the charles upham bravery award for his actions when attempting to resuscitate a mortally wounded colleague , while responding to an insurgent attack on the british council offices in kabul , afghanistan in 2011 .smith , who was a member of the new zealand special air service , was subsequently himself mortally wounded during a later operation in afghanistan .