Page 129 - JSOM Spring 2023

The 15:17 to Paris

The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes

Anthony Sadler; Alek Skarlatos; Spencer Stone; Jeffrey E. Stern. The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train,
and Three American Heroes. 2018. 256 pp. ISBN: 978-1-61039-734-6 (EB)
Review by Scott P. Graverson, PhD

n Friday, August 21, 2015, Ayoub El-Khazzani counterattack to succeed. The account of the actual attack
boarded a train from Brussels to Paris with enough is gripping and terrifying, and the authors convey a sense
Oweapons and ammunition to exterminate the 500 of urgency and immediacy that makes it feel as though the
living souls on board the train. Radicalized in his youth, he reader is right there on the train with them.
possessed the will and intent to do so. He didn’t count on
the heroic efforts of three Americans traveling on the train— What sets this book apart from other accounts of terrorism or
Anthony Sadler; Oregon Army National Guard Specialist heroism is the personal touch. The authors are not just writ-
Alek Skarlatos; and US Air Force Airman First Class Spen- ing about a news story or a historical event, but about their
cer Stone. The trio was on the last leg of their “European own experiences. They offer thoughts and emotions before,
Blowout” vacation to celebrate Skarlatos’ return during, and after the attack, providing a deeper
from a deployment to Afghanistan and Stone's understanding of the event and the people in-
successful completion of an overseas tour in the volved. The three friends are portrayed as re-
Azores. Sadler, a California State University-Sac- latable and human, not just as heroes, which
ramento student, joined his friends in Rome to makes their bravery all the more remarkable.
celebrate the end of his sophomore year.
President François Hollande awarded the trio
The book is a fascinating and inspiring read that France’s highest decoration, the Knights of
offers an intimate look into the lives of the three the Legion of Honor (Chevaliers de la Légion
men and their remarkable heroism. The book d’Honneur). President Obama invited the trio
opens with a brief introduction to the three main to the White House for a ceremony where he
characters, followed by a description of their awarded Stone the US Air Force Airman’s Medal
childhoods, their families, and the improbable and a Purple Heart and Sadler the Secretary of
events that made their friendship and the European trip pos- Defense Medal for Valor. The Air Force immediately pro-
sible. We learn that Stone aspired to be a Special Forces moted Stone to Senior Airman and later to Staff Sergeant in
Operator. He applied to be an Air Force Pararescueman recognition of his heroic actions.
(PJ), but the Air Force disqualified him for medical reasons.
Still, Stone continued his military training, first as a Survival The book touches on broader themes of friendship, resil-
Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) trainer and later as ience, and faith. The three friends had a strong bond forged
an Aerospace Medical Services Technician. Stone is also a over many years. It is clear that this friendship played a sig-
martial arts enthusiast; Skarlatos is a weapons expert for the nificant role in their ability to react quickly and effectively
National Guard. These skills were essential to their ability during the attack. The authors also describe the event's af-
to disarm and subdue El-Khazzani, maintain control of the termath, including the media attention and the emotional
passengers, and render lifesaving aid to a critically wounded toll it took on them. They each credit their faith for giving
passenger until the train arrived at the nearest station and them the strength to persevere through difficult times.
French officials arrived.
15:17 to Paris is a remarkable true story of heroism that is
The narrative then shifts to the day of the attack. The au- well worth reading. The authors provide a unique and per-
thors describe the moments leading up to the attack, the sonal perspective on a terrifying event that could have had
chaos and confusion that ensued, the courage and quick much more tragic consequences. The book is a tribute to the
thinking that ultimately saved many lives, and the improb- three friends and their incredible bravery, and offers valuable
able sequence of events that needed to take place for the insights into the nature of heroism, friendship, and faith.

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