U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The NCO who thwarted a terrorist attack on a high-speed train bound for Paris last year spoke to cadets and permanent-party staff members here during the 2016 National Character and Leadership Symposium Feb. 25-26.
Staff Sgt. Spencer Stone and his two friends, Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler, made headlines last August after subduing and disarming a man with an AK-47 rifle, a pistol and a boxcutter, who has since been linked to the Islamic State terrorist organization.
“My main role was to be a spark in that situation,” Stone said. “My getting up and running at him enabled everyone else around me to snap out of it and help. That goes a long way with leadership, being the spark. ...You never know when your worth will be tested to the world. You have got to be ready.”
The attack happened in the middle of a vacation while travelling through Europe. Stone was asleep in his train seat when the gunman struck just after a stop in Brussels. He knew something was really wrong when he watched a train employee sprint in the opposite direction of the attacker and lock himself in a safe room.
“I just thought ‘Oh my God, this is happening,’” Stone told the audience. “Then Alek taps me on the shoulder and says ‘Go Spencer!’ and I take off right at him.”
The gunman aimed the rifle and pulled the trigger but it didn’t fire. He tried to get his weapon to work but Stone tackled him and used his Jui Jitsu training. While Stone subdued the gunman, Skarlatos grabbed the AK-47.
“That’s when I think ‘We’re good. We got him,’” Stone said.
Then, gunman grabbed his pistol, pointed it at Stone’s head and pulled the trigger, but it didn’t fire. Skarlatos wrestled it from the attacker while Stone held him.
“Divine intervention right there,” Stone said.
Next, the attacker pulled out a boxcutter and dragged it across Stone’s neck during another scuffle, but Stone and company put the man in a chokehold until he fell unconscious. Stone went into medic mode and saved a man the attacker shot before Stone even knew there was an attack in progress.
Stone, Skarlatos and Sadler were three of at least 25 passengers in that train car but only Stone, Skarlatos and Sadler jumped into action.
Everyone has “Go Spencer!” moments throughout their life, said Lt. Col. Kevin Basik, the U.S. Air Force representative to the Office of the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense for Military Professionalism. Basik mediated Stone’s presentation.
“I can pretty much promise you this: You will never be attacked by a terrorist on a train in France,” Basik said. “That moment will probably never come. … But I can definitely promise you this: You will have moments. They may be big moments, they may be small moments. … Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s doing it anyway, despite the fear. There are ‘Go’ moments coming. Not necessarily like this. Are you going to be the leader you should?”
Gen. Mark Welsh III, the Air Force chief of staff, selected Stone for promotion to staff sergeant in November. Stone was an airman first class at the time of the attack.
In September, Stone was presented with the Soldier’s Medal and the Airman’s Medal from Defense Secretary Ash Carter, the services’ highest award for service members who distinguish themselves in non-combat heroic action. Carter awarded Skarlatos and Sadler the Medal of Valor, a medal created after Sept. 11, 2001, for civilians who take the same risk.