U.S. airman who disarmed train gunman to receive Purple Heart
Source: Yahoo! News / Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - 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.
Spencer Stone, 23, will receive the medal, which is given to troops wounded or killed in action against a U.S. enemy, U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah James said in remarks at the Air Force Association Conference.
Stone, National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler, a civilian, were vacationing in Europe last month when they saw a gunman on board a train from Amsterdam to Paris armed with a box cutter, a pistol, and a Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle.
They have said they had no choice but to intervene when the gunman cocked the rifle. Stone, whose thumb was almost severed by the attacker, has been credited with saving the life of another passenger who had been shot.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/u-airman-disarmed-train-gunman-receive-purple-heart-204145924.html
tabasco
(22,974 posts)He did a great job and could have been killed.
If terrorists are the enemy, then the definition of "combat zone" needs to evolve.
7962
(11,841 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)tabasco
(22,974 posts)republicans can be!
jmowreader
(50,528 posts)It's the highest non-combat award for bravery the Air Force can issue. This is what it looks like.
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Old Crow
(2,212 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,027 posts)The Republicans will give him some Freedom Fries
for his bravery because it was on French soil
Lychee2
(405 posts)The government called him a hero and thanked him. They should go whole hog.