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Spencer StoneMilitary pilot, writer, actor
Date of Birth: 13.08.1992
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Childhood and Education
- Military Service
- The Terrorist Attack
- Aftermath and Recovery
- Public Figure
- Honors and Recognitions
- Spencer Stone Today
- Awards
Childhood and Education
Spencer Stone was born on August 13, 1992, in Sacramento, California, USA, to parents Brian Stone and Joyce Eschel. He has an older brother, Everett, who serves in the California Highway Patrol, and a younger sister, Kelly. Stone's close friendship with Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler developed during their time at Liberty Christian School in Fair Oaks and continued into adulthood. All three men shared a "deeply religious background and a commitment to serving their community." At Del Campo High School, Stone excelled in football, lacrosse, and other team sports. "We always knew that he had a special heart for his fellow man," recalled Del Campo teacher and basketball coach Dave Nobis.
Military Service
Upon graduating high school, Stone enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, and trained in the Azores. His instructor, Joao Santos, described Stone as "a very good boy, polite, well-educated, and dedicated to his training." In January 2015, Stone began attending Airman Leadership School to become a junior officer. On November 1, 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Senior Airman, partially in recognition of his courageous actions in France. Inspired by the aftermath of the thwarted attack and subsequent meetings with French and American diplomats, Stone expressed interest in pursuing higher education in international relations.
The Terrorist Attack
The summer of 2015 proved to be a turning point in Stone's life when he and his two friends embarked on a trip to Europe. Gunshots fired in the vestibule of the Amsterdam-Paris high-speed Thalys 9364 train put them on high alert. When an armed stranger burst into their carriage, Stone was the first to confront him. He was joined by Alek Skarlatos, a US National Guard soldier who had returned from Afghanistan in July. They were aided by their third companion, student Anthony Sadler, and fellow passenger Chris Norman, a 62-year-old British resident of southern France and former rugby player. Stone sustained a knife wound to the neck and hand from the attacker, while a stray bullet struck a passenger in the throat. Despite his injuries, Stone administered first aid to the victim.
Aftermath and Recovery
The assailant, Moroccan national Ayoub El-Khazzani, was subdued with several blows to the head, tied up, and handed over to police who arrived in response to the emergency alert. The wounded passenger was airlifted to a hospital in Lille, while Stone was taken to a hospital in Arras, where surgeons reattached his partially severed left thumb. Stone spent time in hospitals in France and Germany, receiving visits from his friends, counter-terrorism police, journalists, and diplomats. In September, the now-celebrity airman returned home, but soon found himself back in the hospital after sustaining fresh stab wounds during an altercation in Sacramento with James Tran.
Public Figure
A week later, Stone was cleared of life-threatening injuries and released from the hospital. Investigation revealed that Tran had no connection to international terrorism. "We were put in the limelight, and we can't go back to not being in the limelight," Stone said. Stone retired from the military and became a public figure. He now lives in Sacramento and maintains a low political profile. However, he is often asked for his opinions on a wide range of issues. "People ask what the coolest thing we've done is, but I can name a hundred things, and it's hard to say which one is more important," Stone said. In his speeches, Stone has emphasized that he "gives all the credit to God" and expresses gratitude to his family, friends, the United States Air Force, and the community of Sacramento. Former US President Barack Obama personally awarded Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler with Purple Hearts in a ceremony at the Pentagon.
Honors and Recognitions
French President Francois Hollande inducted the American trio into the Order of the Legion of Honour, France's highest award for military and civil merit. Yet the gratitude expressed by people he helped means more to Stone than accolades from high-ranking officials. "The worst case scenario, you have a train with over 500 people on it. Fortunately for them, unfortunately for him, we were there," Stone said. At 25, Stone has led an extraordinary life as an airman, a hero, an author, and an actor. He undoubtedly has much more to contribute to the world.
Spencer Stone Today
Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler appeared on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" as part of the "Hometown Heroes" week. Their team won $250,000. In January 2016, the trio began collaborating with journalist Jeffrey E. Stern on a book titled "15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes." The memoir was completed on August 23, 2016, nearly a year after the train attack.
On July 11, 2017, Clint Eastwood began directing a film adaptation of the memoir. Initially planning to cast actors resembling Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler, the director later decided to cast the trio as themselves. Cole Isenberger, Paul-Mikél Williams, and Bryce Gheisar portray Stone, Anthony, and Alek in their younger years. The biographical film premiered in the US on February 9, 2018, and in Russia on February 15.
Awards
- 2015: Air Force "Pilot" Badge- 2015: Air Force Air Mobility Command "Excellence in Service" Award
- 2015: Air Force "National Defense Service" Medal
- 2015: Air Force "Global War on Terrorism Service" Medal
- 2015: Purple Heart, US Department of Defense
- 2015: Legion of Honour, France
- 2015: Civic Medal for Bravery, First Class, Belgium
