Alek Skarlatos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alek Skarlatos
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| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 4th district |
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| Assumed office January 13, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Christine Goodwin |
| Personal details | |
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Aleksander Reed Skarlatos
October 10, 1992 Castro Valley, California, U.S. |
| Citizenship |
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| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Umpqua Community College |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 2012–2017 |
| Rank |  Specialist |
| Unit |  Oregon Army National Guard |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | § Awards and decorations |
Aleksander Reed Skarlatos (born October 10, 1992) is a Greek-American politician and a former soldier in the Oregon Army National Guard. He is currently a member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing Oregon's 4th House district. He became well-known for his brave actions during a train attack in 2015.
Skarlatos has run for political office several times. He was the Republican candidate for Oregon's 4th congressional district in the 2020 and 2022 elections, but he did not win. In 2024, he ran for the Oregon House of Representatives and won. He started his term on January 13, 2025.
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Early life and military service
Aleksander Reed Skarlatos was born in Castro Valley, California. His father came to the United States from Greece. Alek grew up in Sacramento County, where he met his friends Spencer Stone and Anthony Sadler at a private school. Later, Skarlatos moved to Oregon. He finished high school at Roseburg High School and went to Umpqua Community College.
In 2012, Skarlatos joined the Oregon Army National Guard. In 2015, he spent nine months serving in Afghanistan with his military unit. A leader in the Oregon Guard praised Skarlatos, calling him "a true citizen soldier who showed the courage we all hope to have." Skarlatos left the military in November 2017.
The 2015 Thalys train attack
On August 21, 2015, Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler, and Spencer Stone were on vacation in Europe. They were traveling on a high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris. Skarlatos had just returned from serving in Afghanistan.
During the trip, a 25-year-old man named Ayoub El-Khazzani came out of a train bathroom. He was carrying an assault rifle, a pistol, and a knife. He also had many rounds of ammunition.
Two passengers, a Frenchman and an American named Mark Moogalian, tried to stop the gunman. Moogalian grabbed the rifle but was shot with the pistol. Stone then ran towards the gunman and attacked him. Stone was cut during the struggle. Skarlatos quickly joined in, taking the pistol from El-Khazzani's hand. He then picked up the rifle and hit the attacker with it. A British businessman, Chris Norman, also helped.
Even though he was badly cut, Stone used his military training to hold El-Khazzani until he became unconscious. The attacker was then tied up. Stone, who also had some medical training, helped Moogalian by stopping the bleeding from his injury.
The attacker, El-Khazzani, and three others were put on trial in November 2020. Moogalian, Stone, Sadler, and Skarlatos were asked to speak in court. Skarlatos said that Stone deserved the most credit for stopping the attack. He explained, "I do not feel like a hero because we were just doing what we had to to survive. I think Spencer is probably a hero because he was the first one" to act. El-Khazzani was sentenced to life in prison. His helpers also received prison sentences.
Global recognition
After the train attack, Skarlatos and his friends received worldwide attention for their bravery. The French president, François Hollande, gave Skarlatos, Stone, Sadler, and Norman France's highest award, the Legion of Honour. President Hollande said the men "faced terror" and "gave us a lesson in courage." Leaders from France and Britain also praised them.
The White House in the United States thanked the passengers for their "courage and quick thinking." U.S. President Barack Obama called the three Americans to thank them for their heroic actions. A top U.S. military general also called them heroes.
The mayor of Sacramento, California, Kevin Johnson, held a parade to honor Skarlatos, Sadler, Stone, and others. Skarlatos later said that the event made him feel more connected to victims of terrorist attacks.
Media appearances
In October 2016, Skarlatos, Spencer Stone, and Anthony Sadler appeared on the TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Skarlatos also competed in Dancing with the Stars in 2015. He was partnered with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold. He was inspired to join the show by another soldier who had competed before. Skarlatos and Arnold made it to the finals and finished in third place.
In July 2017, it was announced that director Clint Eastwood would make a movie about Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler's story. The film, titled The 15:17 to Paris, starred the three men playing themselves. It was released in the United States on February 9, 2018.
Political career
Previous campaigns
Skarlatos first ran for Douglas County Commissioner in Oregon in 2018 but lost. He then ran for Congress in 2020 and 2022.
2020 election
In 2019, Skarlatos announced he would run for the United States House of Representatives in Oregon's 4th congressional district as a Republican.
He won the Republican primary election on May 19, 2020. However, he lost the main election to the current Democratic congressman, Peter DeFazio. Skarlatos received 46.2% of the votes, while DeFazio received 51.5%.
2022 election
In May 2021, Skarlatos announced he would run again for Oregon's 4th congressional district. He was the only Republican candidate in the primary. After the voting districts were redrawn for the 2022 election, the 4th District had more Democratic voters. The current congressman, DeFazio, decided to retire. Val Hoyle, a Democratic state official, ran for the seat and was supported by DeFazio. Skarlatos faced Hoyle in the election but lost, with Hoyle getting 51% of the votes and Skarlatos getting 43%.
Oregon House of Representatives
Skarlatos ran for the Oregon House of Representatives in the 2024 Oregon House of Representatives election to represent Oregon's 4th House district. During his campaign, he was supported by a group that advocates for the protection of unborn babies. He won the election on November 5, 2024, and began his term on January 13, 2025.
Personal life
On September 20, 2018, Skarlatos, along with Stone and Sadler, officially became French citizens. A ceremony was held in Sacramento on January 31, 2019. Skarlatos was raised as a Presbyterian but is now a member of a Lutheran church.
Awards and decorations
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| Badge | Air Assault Badge | ||
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| 1st Row Awards | Soldier's Medal | Achievement Medal | Good Conduct Medal (United States) |
| 2nd Row Awards | National Defense Service Medal | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| 3rd Row Awards | Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device | Army Service Ribbon | Overseas Service Ribbon |
| 4th Row Awards | Legion of Honour, Knight (France, August 2015) | NATO Medal for service with ISAF | Oregon Distinguished Service Medal |
| 5th Row Awards | 41st Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge | 186th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
- He also received a bravery medal from the city of Arras, France.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 2016 | Range 15 | Himself | A movie about veterans and zombies |
| 2018 | The 15:17 to Paris | Himself | A movie based on the 2015 train attack |
See also
In Spanish: Alek Skarlatos para niños
