Three months after returning from Iraq, Sgt. Scott Shelhart found out he would receive the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for saving the life of another soldier. It was something he wasn't expecting.

Shelhart, 21, of Merrillville, was on a mission in northern Iraq about 1 p.m. Jan. 28 with the U.S. Army National Guard when the vehicle in which he was traveling was hit with a special explosive device. It was like "five bombs hitting the truck at once," Shelhart said.

After the explosion, he said he immediately attempted to radio officials to let them know of the situation. When he was able to get out of the vehicle, he made his way to the driver and saw blood on the seat, he said.

Other military personnel assisted Shelhart as he placed a tourniquet on the upper thigh of the driver to slow the bleeding. He said the driver lost his leg from the explosion.

For his valor, Shelhart was presented with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star in a special Michigan City ceremony earlier this month.

"I'm honored to receive it, but we don't go overseas to earn medals," Shelhart said. "We go over there because that's our job to do what we're trained to do."

During the incident, the gunner in the vehicle also made his way out and told Shelhart the driver needed to be moved immediately because fuel was leaking from the truck.

Shelhart was able to remove the driver and stayed with him while others performed first aid until a medical evacuation unit arrived, he said.

Shelhart suffered from what he described as whiplash over his entire body from the explosion, and the gunner also suffered shrapnel to his arm and burns to his face.

Shelhart's mother, Pamela Shelhart, said military and law enforcement have been in her son's background all his life as many members of his family have served in the armed forces, including his father, John T. Shelhart, Lowell's police Chief.

"We're a very patriotic family," Pamela Shelhart said.