Heroes of thwarted train attack awarded French Legion of Honor
I guess the French recognize heroism when they see it. Just days after three Americans and a Briton rescued hundreds of people from a Moroccan gunman, French President Francois Hollande presented the Legion d’Honneur at the Elysee presidential palace to British businessman Chris Norman, Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos. For some reason, he also presented the award to U.S. Ambassador to France Jane D. Hartley, and Hollande called President Obama to thank him, for whatever Obama did to stop the criminal. I guess it’s like when Obama took out bin Laden;
French President Francois Hollande on Saturday offered his “heartfelt thanks” to his US counterpart Barack Obama for the “exemplary conduct” shown by three US citizens who overpowered a suspected jihadist gunman on a packed Amsterdam-Paris train, the Elysee said.
Their actions helped prevent “an extremely serious” incident, Hollande’s office said in a statement.
I guess that after this attack, the London railway attack in 2005 and the Madrid train bombings in 2004, terrorism “experts” are starting to spot the vulnerabilities of trains to terror attacks, according to the New York Times;
A 2011 report by the Department of Homeland Security found security gaps at many Amtrak stations. Congress and security experts have long debated whether to institute screening systems at railroad stations similar to those at airports, but plans have gone nowhere — largely because of cost and resistance from passengers.
Amtrak, particularly on its high-speed train, the Acela, has cut into the airlines’ share of passengers in the busy Northeast corridor because of frustrations with airport screenings. Between New York and Washington, Amtrak said, 75 percent of travelers go by train, a share that has grown steadily since the Acela began service in 2000 and airport security tightened after 2001.
Well, European gun control doesn’t seem to be working, so yeah, let’s add more government interference to train travel. If I can’t drive, I won’t go, anyway.
Category: Terror War
When does Heinz Kerry get a Purple Heart from the French for the attack?
I am waiting on the Brass to start danceing around that one myself. Since nobamma declared word peace I guess the war is over.
My guess is France wanted to recognize Americans as a whole for being willing to intervene.
I had to laugh this morning when the news announcer explained that the three weren’t wearing suits because they didn’t have time before the presentation to buy any.
The other laughable moment was when the terrorist scum made the statement he was only planning on robbing the train and “found” the AK-47 at a pub in Belgium. Besides the obvious BS, what was a devout Islamic-type doing at a pub in the first place? Good thing these guys are better at raping, beheading, and blowing up historical sites than clearing a weapons jam.
And the embassy couldn’t have fast tracked getting uniforms for the Airman and National Guard Soldier? I mean they had enough notice for the Ambassador to clear her schedule.
BZ to the four men recognized today!
Ambassador Hartley sure has managed to be in every picture of the 3 heroes. She should have stayed at the embassy.
UpNorth…Ain’t it the damned truth! In fact I took a look at our old wedding album and damned if Hartley and Michael Caine weren’t both there in the wings!
Guys, I believe participating in stuff like this is kinda a part of an Ambassador’s job. So I’d cut her some slack on that.
I do wish she’d had had her staff ask French President Hollande to delay 24 hours and gotten all three of these fine young men proper attire for the occasion, though – formal dress uniforms for the two military, and a nice civilian suit for the civilian. The uniforms could have been flown in overnight, and Paris has no shortage of clothiers selling suits/ties/shirts/shoes.
Cool
Completely agree. Heck I’m sure SHAPE or one of the bases in England or Germany could have fast tracked the uniforms.
True. But at least to me me, it kinda had that ‘Merica Fuck Yea looking vibe to it. No bullshit aside. The lads did well. I salute them.
I’m pretty sure they would have gone along with it if it was offered, but at the same time I don’t think they put up too much of a fuss about it either.
They were on vacation after all, and most likely did not have a French Legion of Honor pinning on their sightseeing checklist.
History being what it is between us and France, having American soldiers in uniform getting medals for saving French civilians probably would have resurrected ghosts from WWII that the French government can do without.
TSA gropers in Amtrak depots? Yeah, just what they need to make people NOT want to take the train.
HOOOOOAH !!!!!
let hear it
HOOOOOAH !!!!!!
Contrast this award with how long it took this “administration” to approve award of Purple Hearts for several incidents in this country. At least the French have their eyes open and their brains in gear.
The French can be efficient when it suites them. My guess is that it will take our military six months to give these guys the awards they deserve.
Optimist.
First someone will have to determine t was an actual terrorist incident before anything else happens. Based on other cases, that seems to be a 9 year process.
Only if they filled out their TRIPS correctly and received the proper safety briefings before departing.
I’d hope the Air Force, during whatever their version of an AR 15-6 is, finds the wounds to be “in the line of duty” and see’s fit the not charge the airman leave for the last several days.
A valor award from the French is like a (fill in the blank) 😉
A Starbucks whatever, sans the 5 bucks.
Really? Tell that to the Air America pilots who received the Legion D’Honneur for work in Indochina during the French Indochinese War – at least two of whom were presented posthumously.
I’m pretty sure that’s more than our government ever did for them in terms of recognition.
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=43182
And tell that to the 34 Normandy D-Day survivors who received the Legion D’Honneur last year.
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=46749
We don’t always see eye to eye with the French, and they certainly have their faults. But ingratitude does not seem to be among those faults.
I would also ask the guys at Yorktown and other revolutionary war vets how much they appreciate the French. (obviously we can’t) We’ve had our ups and downs with them, but when you see how they honor, every year, our WWII Vets, you might think differently, and it’s mostly the youth carrying on that tradition, unlike here in the US.
Well said. The French have some issues and can be downright snooty at times, but we tend to forget that if it wasn’t for them, we may very well have never become the USA. They saved our bacon during the Revolutionary War.
We also forget that the French Foreign Legion are some of the toughest soldiers in the world (ok, so they are mostly foreigners, but still a French fighting force).
Besides, we aren’t exactly in a position to do any finger-pointing at the moment. So kudos to our French Allies for recognizing those young men so quickly.
Lighten up Francis….
It’s low hanging fruit to toss a little snark at French martial prowess (see “French military rifles-never fired, only dropped once”)
Hey! I happen to have a French surname. That being said, (in my worst French accent) “I fart in your general direction!”
Well done to the four of them! Makes me proud to be an American! I always am but these stories ring that bell loud and clear.
Assuming they were awarded as Chevalier (Knight). In case any one was wondering, according to what I can find, it is authorized for wear on their service dress. (at least in the USAF it is). I wonder if being foreign nationals if they will get any of the other benefits that go along with those awards. i.e.: Stipend and School (maisons d’éducation) admissions.
Source: http://www.legiondhonneur.fr/en/page/rights-and-duties-honorees/409
For the solider he will have to be authorized on orders to wear a foreign award. Much like the German shooting medals a lot of us received. As a CWO I cannot wear it but it is nice to see in my I Love Me box on the wall, right next to the New Yawk State Legion of something or other.
I wonder if Airman Spencer Stone will be eventually awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received in action “against an enemy of the United States”? I hope so.
Unfortunately, it took around 5 years for soldiers who were wound in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting to be awarded purple hearts.
For all the negative comments we justifiably utter against the French, and Europeans in general, we must give them accolades for this one. The immediate awarding of this honor is beyond terrific. This American really appreciates the recognition given our citizens, and especially the part about it being done with haste.
And, yes, it is entirely appropriate for the head of one state to contact the head of another state whose citizens are being honored, with a member of that government present for the ceremony. Better that the ceremony proceed in spite of vacationers having only vacation attire with them.
Hope that terrorists all over Europe noticed that France has officially acknowledged their presence and has approved their forceful removal from society.
Of course President Obama deserves credit. He is the second coming of Christ after all.
All this done with no PT belt in sight. How can we properly fight a WAR without PT belts. WE have rules and regs for a reason people.
Not dialed into the congratulatory timelines.
Did Hollande call POTUS before CIC congratulated the troops?
As in making sure he didn’t “learn about it on the news” again?
A1C Stone is being awarded the Airman’s Medal:
http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-to-award-highest-noncombat-medal-to-train-attack-hero-1.364420
and SPC Skarlatos is being awarded the Soldier’s Medal:
http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/guardsman-who-helped-thwart-france-train-attack-to-get-soldiers-medal-1.364640
Stone is also being considered for a Purple Heart (which would in turn nullify Skarlatos’ Soldier’s Medal, which is awarded for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy). Hopefully Stone will get the Purple Heart he deserves, and Skarlatos’ Soldier’s Medal will be replaced by the equivalent award for heroism against an enemy.