A Fort Drum soldier is receiving top honors for his actions on the New York State Thruway this past July. Our Amanda Kelley tells us about Sergeant Jacob Perkins' uncommon valor that saved several lives.

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FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- His actions are being called heroic, but for Fort Drum soldier Sgt. Jacob Perkins, it was an act he didn't think twice about.

Fort Drum Commander Major General Mark Milley said, "The back of the bus was completely engulfed in flames and without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own life, Sgt. Perkins heard someone say they're still in there. And in an instant, again, with complete disregard for his own life, he entered a burning bus."

Perkins said, "I wouldn't say heroic, I would just say I did a good deed. Someone needed help, I was there to help them."

Perkins pulled five people from a fiery tour bus when it collided with a semi-truck last July. He was driving home for leave when he came across the Thruway crash. Now the Army is honoring him with one of its highest awards, the Soldier's Medal.

Squadron Commander of the 1-89th Calvary Lt. Col. David Sanders III said, "I'm just so proud of Sgt. Perkins. This is just a phenomenal medal. He is just a great guy and awesome soldier and I'm just absolutely proud of him."

Major General Milley said, "This medal is a big deal."

The medal is one of only two awarded on Fort Drum and of about 18,500 since its inception in 1926 and one Perkins' fellow soldiers says he's very humble about.

2nd Brigade Combat Team 1st Sgt. Steven Johnson said, "Very humble kid. Doesn't expect a lot, didn't expect any of this. Just every day, wants to go on doing his job."

Lt. Col. Sanders said, "He wants no fan fare, he just wants to do his job. And do the mission to the highest standard possible. That's just the way he is."

Perkins says he's just thankful his Army training kicked in at the right time and that lives were able to be saved.

"I guess sometimes I think, why didn't I think? But the Army has me trained to be ready for anything, unusual circumstances and I'm just glad that it actually kicked in and I was there to help," Perkins said.

Perkins also helped drive a victim's family to a hospital when they could not all fit into an ambulance.

Perkins was joined by his mother Tuesday to accept the medal for his actions.