Alek Skarlatos

Aleksander Reed Skarlatos (; born October 10, 1992) is an American former Army National Guard soldier and political candidate. He along with Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and three others, stopped a gunman on a Paris-bound train travelling from Amsterdam via Brussels in August 2015. He was awarded the United States Army's Soldier's Medal from U.S. President Barack Obama. All six received France's highest decoration, the ''Chevalier'' of the Legion of Honour, from French president François Hollande. The Americans were also awarded the medal of the city of Arras.

Skarlatos competed on season 21 of ABC's ''Dancing with the Stars'' with pro dancer Lindsay Arnold as his partner. They finished in third place. Skarlatos, along with his friends, portrayed themselves in the Clint Eastwood-directed movie ''The 15:17 to Paris'', based on their autobiography, which was written with reporter Jeffrey Stern. Having previously ran for Douglas County commissioner in 2018, he was the Republican nominee for Oregon's 4th congressional district in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections but was defeated by incumbent Democrat Peter DeFazio. He ran again to represent Oregon in the 4th congressional district in the 2022 House elections, but was defeated by Democratic state Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle. Skarlatos is running to represent Oregon's 4th House district in the 2024 Oregon House of Representatives election. Provided by Wikipedia