Posted on 08/24/2015 5:45:33 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
The Air Force is awarding Airman First Class Spencer Stone its highest non-combat honor, the Airman’s Medal, for his heroic actions aboard a Paris train, the Air Force announced Monday.
Stone, Alek Skarlatos and college friend Anthony Sadler took down a gunman wielding an AK-47 and box cutter as he began an assault on a high-speed train bound for Paris late Friday.
The trio have been hailed as heroes in France, where they were awarded the Legion of Honor, France’s highest honor, on Monday by French president Francois Hollande.
“What the gunman did not expect was a confrontation with our very own Captain America. Believe it or not, that is what Airman Stone’s friends nicknamed him during Air Force technical training,” Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James told reporters Monday when announcing the medal.
If it had not been for Stone’s actions, James said, “I’m quite sure today we would be sitting here considering a bloodbath.”
A representative for the Oregon National Guard, where Skarlatos serves, did not return requests for comment.
According to the Air Force, the Airman’s Medal was established in 1960 and is awarded “to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly nation who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Air Force ... distinguished himself or herself by a heroic act, usually at the voluntary risk of his or her life but not involving actual combat.”
James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said Stone may be eligible for other honors, including the Purple Heart if investigators determine the attack was an act of terrorism.
NICE!
I wish I could attend a parade for these young heroes. I hope all our fellow citizens, especially the children remember them for their selfless valor.
Used to be...under Obama, Im pretty sure its a Corpse Marshall.
True. The Airman’s Medal would appear to be the correct award providing the PH is not awarded. If the PH is awarded for their actions, then I would argue that the Bronze Star with V device would be more appropriate. The Natl Guard guy should be eligible too. Hopefully MPC will allow them them to wear the French award. This interests me as I ran two Awards and Decs Sections in SAC for about 5 years in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
Thanks
hussien Obama..... leading from behind
And those who volunteer have the personalities to do so. Hence, the social psychology prevalent now to give everyone a reward when they don’t deserve it is de-motivational and communist. Why try to win?
A U.S. airman who helped disarm a gunman on a Paris-bound train last month will receive a Purple Heart medal, the U.S. Air Force leader said on Monday, in an unusual award of the honor to a serviceman wounded while not in a combat zone.
In addition to the Purple Heart, Stone will receive the Airman’s Medal, the Air Force’s highest non-combat award for bravery. The medals will be awarded at a ceremony at the Pentagon this week.
Skarlatos will receive the Soldiers Medal, the U.S. Army’s highest non-combat medal, while Sadler will receive the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor, awarded to civilians, Captain Jeff Davis said on Monday.
Update:
A U.S. airman who helped disarm a gunman on a Paris-bound train last month will receive a Purple Heart medal, the U.S. Air Force leader said on Monday, in an unusual award of the honor to a serviceman wounded while not in a combat zone.
In addition to the Purple Heart, Stone will receive the Airman’s Medal, the Air Force’s highest non-combat award for bravery. The medals will be awarded at a ceremony at the Pentagon this week.
Skarlatos will receive the Soldiers Medal, the U.S. Army’s highest non-combat medal, while Sadler will receive the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor, awarded to civilians, Captain Jeff Davis said on Monday.
Thanks Dave!
Woo-Hoo, some good news for a change.
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