Subscribe
(Right to left) Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, Army Spc. Aleksander Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler pose for a photo in Paris Aug. 23, 2015, following a foiled attack on a French train.

(Right to left) Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, Army Spc. Aleksander Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler pose for a photo in Paris Aug. 23, 2015, following a foiled attack on a French train. (Ryan Crane/U.S. Air Force)

Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone will receive the Purple Heart and the Airman’s Medal at a Pentagon ceremony Thursday for his heroics aboard a Paris train last month.

Stone’s Purple Heart honor, announced by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James on Monday, was contingent upon investigators determining that the attack he helped prevent was an act of terrorism. The Airman’s Medal is the Air Force’s highest noncombat award.

Stone was one of three Americans — with Army Spc. Alek Skarlatos of the Oregon National Guard; and Anthony Sadler — who were among a small group of passengers that subdued Moroccan Ayoub El-Khazzani, 26, who opened fire on a Paris-bound train in late August.

Skarlatos will receive the Soldier’s Medal for noncombat heroism, and Sadler will receive a defense civilian award, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter will present the awards, a defense official said.

It’s been a pretty good month for Stone, whose thumb and hand were deeply lacerated in the attack. Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel awarded him a brand new Chevy Camaro convertible last week.

copp.tara@stripes.com

Twitter: @TaraCopp

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now