Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
DRAPER — A Park City man recently received a prestigious award for risking his life to rescue three injured people from a terrible plane crash earlier this year.
Staff Sgt. Robert Kelley, a Utah National Guard soldier, accepted the Soldier’s Medal for heroism Dec. 6 from Gen. Frank Grass, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, according to a news release.
“Anyone would have done what I did if they had been there,” Kelley said of the West Jordan plane crash that occurred Aug. 10. “My military training just kicked in.”
The small plane crashed and burned at a soccer complex near the South Valley Regional Airport.
Kelley, along with David Lawrence, a former volunteer firefighter, helped pull Steven Sedlacek, 56, his wife Kathleen Sedlacek, 57, and their adult daughter Anna Looper, 28 out before the plane burst into flames.
The Boise family had taken off from South Valley Regional Airport, but the Piper fixed-wing, single-engine plane didn’t gain altitude and crashed about one mile into the flight.
Kelley had noticed the engine was on fire, and knew it could soon explode.
"The whole time, I just was thinking, 'Got to get them away from the plane,’ ” Kelley told KSL in August.
Anyone would have done what I did if they had been there. My military training just kicked in.
–Robert Kelley, staff sgt. for Utah National Guard
The three victims each had a broken back and underwent spinal fusion surgeries and treatment for other injuries, according to Anna Looper's father-in-law, Robert Looper.
The award presentation, which took place at Camp Williams in Riverton, made for Grass’ second time visiting Utah as chief of the National Guard. The first time was in 2012 when Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton took command for the Utah National Guard.
Burton also attended the award ceremony, and expressed his pride in Kelley.
“Our soldiers exemplify bravery and selflessness in times of need, and do it without thought of personal gain or publicity,” Burton said.
During his visit, Grass met with Utah Guard leadership and visited elements at the Wright Air National Guard Base, Camp Williams and the Draper headquarters facility.
“Thank you [to the Kelley family] for raising an outstanding young gentleman that became a soldier that has served his nation overseas as well as responded in the homeland when he saw a situation and he saw somebody needed help,” Grass said after pinning Kelley. “It really starts at home. It starts as a little child instilling those values — dedication, commitment and community which come from our families.”
