Sacramento State senior Anthony Sadler, one of three Americans who subdued a terror attack Friday on a high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris, has been hailed as a hero by President Robert S. Nelsen.
“We are proud to say Anthony Sadler is a member of the Hornet family,” Nelsen said Saturday. “His efforts, along with those of his childhood friends, to save the train passengers from a terrorist attack are nothing short of heroic.
“I look forward to thanking him in person when he returns to campus for fall.”
Sadler, 23, is currently a senior at Sacramento State, majoring in kinesiology. He is also a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and the Philosophy Club. He started at Sacramento State in Fall 2010.
In the train incident, a heavily armed man began shooting with an automatic rifle after emerging from a train restroom. Sadler and his two companions – Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, who was stabbed and is now recovering from his wounds, and Army National Guard Specialist Aleksander Skarlatos – subdued the man.
President Barack Obama telephoned Sadler, Stone and Skarlatos on Saturday to congratulate them for their heroism that prevented a tragedy aboard the packed train. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said he is “incredibly proud of the three heroes” and is looking forward to shaking their hands and thanking them when they return to the United States. "Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos risked their own lives to save the lives of complete strangers. That is true heroism," the mayor said.
In France, all three men were decorated with an honor by the city of Arras, where the train pulled to a stop after the episide, and they will be meeting soon with French President Francois Hollande. – Elisa B. Smith and Jack Vaughn
In the media:
"Local heroes, friend recount tackling armed man aboard European train," The Sacramento Bee
"3 who stopped train attack were boyhood friends," The New York Times
"Sacramento men helped subdue gunman on high-speed train," KCRA Channel 3
"Train heroes: The men who helped avert a massacre in Europe," CNN