The U.S. Air Force has released a set of photos of the three American heroes who, through their actions, saved “countless” lives during what the Air Force describes as “a terrorist attack aboard a train headed toward Paris Aug. 21.”
Lead photo: Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone along with Jane D. Hartly, the U.S. ambassador to France, and his two friends speak at a press conference in Paris Aug. 23, 2015, following a foiled attack on a French train. Stone was on vacation with his childhood friends, Aleksander Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler, when an armed gunman entered their train carrying an assault rifle, a handgun and a box cutter. The three friends, with the help of a British passenger, subdued the gunman after his rifle jammed. Stone’s medical background prepared him to begin treating wounded passengers while waiting for the authorities to arrive. Stone is an ambulance service technician assigned to the 65th Medical Operations Squadron stationed at Lajes Field, Azores.
Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, injured during the attack.
Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone (right), Aleksander Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler pose for a photo in Paris Aug. 23, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Crane)
Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone with Jane D. Hartly, the U.S. ambassador to France at a press conference in Paris Aug. 23, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Crane)
All photos and captions: U.S. Air Force
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.