Alek Skarlatos

Aleksander Reed Skarlatos (; born October 10, 1992) is an American politician and former Oregon Army National Guard soldier. He is the state representative-elect for Oregon's 4th House district. Prior to being elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, he came to prominence for his heroism during the 2015 Thalys train attack. He subsequently made media appearances, wrote an autobiography that was later turned into a biographical film, and thrice ran unsuccessfully for other political offices.

Born in Castro Valley, California, Skarlatos later moved to Oregon and in 2012 would join the Oregon Army National Guard. He came to international attention in August 2015; him along with high school friends Spencer Stone and Anthony Sadler, and three others, stopped a gunman on a Paris-bound train travelling from Amsterdam via Brussels in August 2015. For his heroism, Skarlatos was awarded the United States Army's Soldier's Medal from President Barack Obama. All six received France's highest decoration, the ''Chevalier'' of the Legion of Honour, from French president François Hollande. He, and friends Stone and Sadler, were also awarded the medal of the city of Arras.

Subsequently after the August 2015 events, Skarlatos would later make several media appearances. He competed on season 21 of ABC's ''Dancing with the Stars'' with pro dancer Lindsay Arnold as his partner, finishing in third place. He and 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. Skarlatos would go on to run for political office four times. 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 again ran to represent Oregon in the 4th congressional district in the 2022 House elections, but was defeated by Democratic state Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle. Skarlatos ran to represent Oregon's 4th House district in the 2024 Oregon House of Representatives election and won the November general election. He will take office on January 13, 2025. Provided by Wikipedia