U.S. man who helped stop attack on French train to get high honor

WASHINGTON — Aleksander Skarlatos, one of three Americans who subdued a heavily armed gunman on a Paris-bound train, will be awarded one of the U.S. Army’s highest honors.

Senior Army leaders say Skarlatos, a member of the Oregon National Guard, will get the Soldiers Medal — the Army’s highest award for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy.

Skarlatos was traveling from Amsterdam when the gunman emerged from a train lavatory carrying an AK-47 and a Lugar pistol. After hearing gunfire, Skarlatos called on other passengers to act, charged the gunman, helped wrestle his firearms away and knocked him unconscious with his own rifle.

Skarlatos is in Germany with U.S. Air Force Airman Spencer Stone, who is undergoing treatment for injuries suffered in the attack.

Meanwhile one of the three Americans who helped stop the attack returned home Tuesday to California.

Anthony Sadler, 23, walked off a commercial plane at Sacramento International Airport, accompanied by his parents.

They arrived in Sacramento after taking a private jet to Portland. Columbia Sportswear CEO Timothy Boyle had made the jet available to fly the Americans’ mothers to France.

Alina Ezzi was at Sacramento’s airport Tuesday in hopes of greeting Sadler.

“It’s a fascinating story: People see what happens and decide to stand up,” said the San Francisco State University student. “I feel like our society is finally stepping up to the plate.”