V.W.H. Campbell Jr. Spc. Timothy Boots of Connellsville gets a hug from Donna Sage, the mother of Sgt. Scot Sage, who in April pulled Boots from a burning Humvee in Iraq. Four Pennsylvania National Guardsmen, including Boots, received Purple Heart medals in a ceremony yesterday at the new Pennsylvania National Guard Connellsville Readiness Center. Click photo for larger image.

Sgt. Scot Sage helped rescue three of the four men who were honored with Purple Hearts in a ceremony at the new Pennsylvania National Guard Connellsville Readiness Center yesterday, but the sergeant was not there.

Sage and other soldiers with an Army National Guard unit braved intense heat, flames and exploding ammunition to rescue their comrades from a burning Humvee that had been attacked by a car bomber in Iraq in April.

With Sage still deployed in Iraq, the soldiers who were honored yesterday turned to applaud the 36-year-old staff sergeant's mother, Donna Sage, who wept at the tribute to her son's bravery.

Sage, of South Connellsville, has 70 more days before he is scheduled to return and be welcomed in the new readiness center, which was dedicated yesterday.

U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who helped secure funding for the center, said reservists and National Guardsmen make up 45 percent of the forces in Iraq. "And I just want you guys to know you're doing one hell of a job," he said.

The injured soldiers were in a group of Humvees returning from a mission April 7 when the attack occurred.

Sage rushed to the Humvee after a car bomber slammed into the truck at high speed. The explosion and fire pinned Spc. Timothy Boots under the dashboard, and severely injured Staff Sgt. Jason Leisey and Spc. Kevin Claycomb.

V.W.H. Campbell Jr., Post-Gazette Four Pennsylvania National Guardsmen receive quilts during a Purple Heart medal ceremony yesterday in Connellsville. From left to right are Spc. Kevin Claycomb of Connellsville, Sgt. Brandon Miller of Chadds Ford, Staff Sgt. Jason Leisey of Lancaster County, and Spc. Timothy Boots of Connellsville. The presenter is Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright. Click photo for larger image.

Also injured was Sgt. Mark Bowman, who was not at yesterday's ceremony.

As fire began to consume the Humvee, Sage used a small knife to free Boots, whose leg had been trapped. Other rescuers doused the vehicle, Sage and Boots with hundreds of bottles of water as Sage worked to pry his friend from the wreckage.

When a round of ammunition went off, cooked by the flames, Sage removed his flak jacket and covered Boots with it.

"One second I was staring at this idiot speeding toward me ... and the next Scot is over me, pulling me out," recalled Boots, 24, of Connellsville.

Boots struggled all morning yesterday trying to put a combat boot on his right-leg prosthesis. Ultimately, he donned sneakers with his desert fatigues. He hobbled to the podium without his cane to receive his medal, which was pinned on by Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Leisey, 25, of Lancaster County, who rode shotgun in the Humvee, lost all of the fingers on his left hand and most of his left ear. His left side is still covered with blue bandages.

Liesey, whose larynx was damaged by severe burns, spoke only briefly in light whispers.

	V.W.H. Campbell Jr., Post-Gazette The Purple Heart medals. Click photo for larger image.

Claycomb, 36, of Connellsville, suffered a fractured skull and broken facial bones. He grew his hair out for the ceremony to cover a giant skull tattoo etched on the back of his head. He inched up to receive his medal leaning heavily on his cane.

Receiving the Purple Heart along with the three car bomb survivors was Sgt. Brandon Miller, 32, from Chadds Ford, Delaware County, whose Humvee ran over an anti-tank mine in the middle of the desert in June. He was hospitalized until this month.

Miller wore a black glove on his right hand to cover the burns he suffered in the blast.

As the ceremony moved outside, Donna Sage searched out Boots and hugged him. It was the first time they had met, and teary-eyed Sage grabbed him and said "Thank you."