President Obama sat down with the three American heroes who charged a gunman on a Paris-bound train in August and averted far greater bloodshed, heaping praise on the trio for their courage and quick action. They’ve already made appearances on late-night talk shows, been in a parade and earned France’s highest honor from President Francois Hollande.
Advertisement
Obama said he just wanted “a chance to shake their hands in person and to tell them what I think they’ve heard from a lot of people – which is they represent the very best of America, American character”.
The incident drew worldwide headlines last month after the three men subdued an armed gunman who opened fire on the train. Stone, whose thumb was nearly severed by the attacker, has been credited with saving the life of another passenger who had been shot. “Each one important.” Carter said.
Three young Americans, two of them now in the military, were awarded with medals for their bravery in thwarting a terror attack in France last month. Skarlatos, who belongs to the Oregon National Guard, was to receive the Soldier’s Medal. Sadler will get the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor, the Defense Department’s highest civilian award for valor.
Stone, who suffered non-life-threatening wounds, will be awarded the Purple Heart and the Airman’s Medal on Thursday, the Air Force announced this week.
After visiting the White House, the three were off to the Pentagon to pick up more honors. Sadler, a student at Cal State Sacramento, opted for a sharp blazer but no tie for the setting.
Selva called them “three young men who did something about evil”.
Turning toward the three friends, he added: “Gentlemen, thank you for acting”.
Skarlatos’ next endeavor is as a contestant on the television dance program Dancing With the Stars.
Advertisement
The childhood friends were reuniting for a European holiday, but reacted quickly after Ayoub El-Khazzani, the 26-year-old gunman, burst into a train carriage firing a Kalashnikov rifle.
