Retired from the Army as of 1 October 2008. Currently working as a Government Contractor/Military Analyst on Fort Leavenworth, KS.
Other Comments:
Published in the Kansas City Star, Wichita Eagle & numerous other publications across the nation, 4 August 2011:
An Army veteran on Wednesday received the highest honor for valor that a soldier can earn for an act outside of combat.
Scott Shigley, who retired as a sergeant first class, received the Soldiers Medal in a ceremony at Fort Leavenworth.
The medal which was authorized by President Obama, is the result of Shigley and two others pulling victims from a fiery crash 17 June 2000, near Fort Knox, Ky.
When Shigley came upon the head-on crash, both cars were on fire. A witness shouted warnings that the cars could explode.
Shigley ignored the warning , and he and two other Soldiers went to help.
"The team then began working to extinguish the fire and extract the passengers trapped in the burning vehicle," said the award citation.
"He freed the driver and then noticed that there was an unconscious boy also trapped in the vehicle. The other Soldiers worked on extinguishing the fire while SSG Shigley protected the boy from any further harm," the citation said.
When emergency crews arrived, Shigley assisted in the boys rescue.
He received the award because of the "bold initiative, selfless service and personal courage in putting his own life at risk in order to protect others and serving as an example for all Soldiers to follow," the citation said.
Shigley has moved to the Fort Leavenworth area, where he works for Northrop Grumman at the Combined Arms Center-Collective Training Directorate.
Fort Leavenworth commander LTG Robert L. Caslen Jr. presented the award, which honors those who voluntarily risk their lives to shield others.
"I feel honored to receive this recognition, but honestly, under the circumstances at the time, myself and the others involved didn't do anything that any other responsible person wouldn't have done," Shigley said in a written statement. "I just reacted without thinking about it."
From Soldiers Medal Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 2 July 1926, has awarded the SOLDIERS MEDAL to:
STAFF SERGEANT SCOTT R. SHIGLEY
THE UNITED STATES ARMOR CENTER
FOR HEROISM: on 17 June 2000, while responding to the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Staff Sergeant Shigley was driving when he came across the scene of a head-on collision with both wrecked vehicles now on fire. He pulled over and immediately went to the scene where he noticed a bystander shouting for everyone to stay back for fear of an explosion. Staff Sergeant Shigley ignored the warning and approached with two other Soldiers. The team then began working to extinguish the fire and extract the passengers trapped in the burning vehicle with Staff Sergeant Shigley trying to pry the door open. He freed the driver and then noticed that there was an unconscious boy also trapped in the vehicle. The other soldiers worked on extinguishing the fire while Staff Sergeant Shigley protected the boy from any further harm. While the other soldiers put the inferno out, Staff Sergeant Shigley continued to stay with the boy and ensured he received no further injuries while trapped in the wreckage. He waited until emergency services arrived and then began to assist the rescue crews. Staff Sergeant Shigley displayed bold initiative, selfless service, and personal courage in putting his own life at risk in order to protect others and serving as an example for all Soldiers to follow. Staff Sergeant Shigley's heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Armor Center and the United States Army.
