Let’s Talk About Heroes

Too often, we learn the names of the deranged lunatics who murder innocent people. I won’t accept criticism of the media for that; it’s logical because they are one person and everyone wants to know what makes them tick. But this time, we can shout the names of three heroes, and let the lunatic rot, anonymously, for all I care.  

Anthony Sadler, a senior at Sacramento State University.

Spencer Stone, an Air Force member from Sacramento, California.

National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos of Roseburg, Oregon.

These three men were traveling on a high-speed train in northern France from Amsterdam to Paris on Friday when they heard a gunshot and saw a train employee running in panic. Glass shattered. They didn’t hesitate. Stone ran toward the gunman and tackled him as he cocked his gun to fire again. The gunman cut Stone with a box cutter, and all three men beat the shirtless shooter into submission. Ignoring his own wounds, Stone saved the life of another man who was shot in the neck. A civilian rushed to help and held down one of the gunman’s arms. At a medal-of-honour ceremony the next day he told media, “I was sure I was going to die, so I thought I’d rather die trying to stop him.”

Three people were hurt, one shot. 554 were on that train. These men acted in the moment, without hesitation, in a situation that must have seemed surreal. Military training kicked in. There is no doubt that they saved lives. The gunman is a 26-year-old Morocan national who was on a watch list for his radical jihadist views. He was carrying a backpack full of ammunition. It was supposted to be a mass slaughter. Sadler, Stone, Skarlatos – thank you. Your names are worth repeating.