Anthony Sadler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anthony Sadler
Sadler in 2015
Born	Anthony Albert Sadler Jr. (1992-07-13) July 13, 1992 (age 32) Contra Costa County, California, U.S.
Citizenship	United States (1992–present) France (2018–present)
Alma mater	California State University, Sacramento (2012–2017; B.S. in kinesiology)
Occupation	Television personality
Years active	2015–present
Known for	Stopping a gunman on a Paris-bound train travelling from Amsterdam via Brussels in August 2015

Anthony Albert Sadler Jr. (born July 13, 1992) is an American author and TV personality. In August 2015, Sadler and his friends Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone were on a train heading to Paris. They, along with other passengers, bravely stopped a dangerous person on the train. This act of courage made them famous around the world.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama and French President François Hollande both honored Sadler. He received several awards for his actions. The French president gave him and his friends the Legion of Honour. This is France's highest award for military and civilian bravery.

After the train incident, Sadler appeared on many TV shows. He was a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He also received the 2016 Spike Guys Choice Award. Sadler, Skarlatos, and Stone wrote a book together. It was called The 15:17 to Paris and came out in August 2016. The book tells the story of what happened before the train attack. Later, Clint Eastwood directed a movie based on their book. The film, also called The 15:17 to Paris, starred Sadler, Skarlatos, and Stone as themselves. It was released in early 2018. Sadler finished his studies at California State University, Sacramento in 2017.

The Brave Train Rescue

On August 21, 2015, Anthony Sadler was on vacation in Europe. He was traveling with his childhood friends, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone. They boarded a Thalys train, number 9364, going from Amsterdam to Paris. The train also stopped in Brussels.

In train car No. 12, a 25-year-old man had an automatic rifle. He also had a lot of ammunition. Another passenger tried to stop him but couldn't. Sadler and his friends heard a gunshot and glass breaking. They saw a train employee run past, followed by the armed man.

Spencer Stone woke up because of the noise. He bravely tackled the armed person. During the struggle, Stone was hurt. He was stabbed in the neck and eyebrow, and almost lost his thumb. Alek Skarlatos then grabbed the rifle. He hit the attacker with the gun until the man was unconscious. Skarlatos later said he was thinking about survival. He wanted to make sure everyone on the train was safe. Sadler and a British man named Chris Norman also helped to hold the attacker down. Sadler said the man kept telling them to give back his gun. But they kept him still until he was completely under control.

Heroes Honored

After the train attack, Sadler, Skarlatos, and Stone became famous worldwide. People praised them for stopping the attack. French President François Hollande gave them France's highest honor. It's called the Knights of the Legion of Honour. A British businessman and a French teacher also received this award. President Hollande said these men "faced terror" and showed great courage and hope. The French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and then-British Prime Minister David Cameron also praised their bravery.

The White House in the U.S. thanked the passengers for their courage. They especially thanked the U.S. service members who stopped the attacker. U.S. President Barack Obama called the three Americans. He thanked them for their heroic actions. General Philip M. Breedlove from the U.S. European Command also called them heroes. He said their actions showed the courage of young men and women, whether they are working or on vacation.

Kevin Johnson, the mayor of Sacramento, California, held a parade. It honored Skarlatos, Sadler, Stone, and the victims of the September 11 attacks. Spencer Stone received the United States Air Force Airman's Medal and a Purple Heart. These awards were given at a ceremony at The Pentagon. Anthony Sadler received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor.

In 2018, Sadler, Stone, and Skarlatos became citizens of France. This was a special honor for their bravery.

Anthony Sadler in Movies and TV

Awards and Honors

Awards

Decorations

Ribbon	Decoration
	Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor
	Legion of Honour, Knight (France)
	Civic Medal for bravery, 1st Class (Belgium)