Utah soldier honored for saving comrade

ALPINE (AP) — A Utah solider was scheduled to be honored in Iraq Monday for saving another soldier's life.

Spc. Cody Henscheid, 19, of Alpine was expected to receive a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with valor for his actions.

Military officials said Henscheid was driving in an 18-wheeler when it was hit by an explosive device and blew up. However, Henscheid managed to rescue another soldier, who was pinned and wounded.

"I did what I could to protect him. I laid my body and vest on top of him. We got gun truck security and got medivaced to the nearest base," Henscheid told KUTV.

Henscheid says he had to stand in waist-deep flames to rescue his friend, but he has no major burns.

Henscheid has been in Iraq since March and is expected to return to Utah for a visit in a few days.