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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: First retail pot sales won't be a big change ... A man's love for trees ... Grant will build life jacket loaner stations ... Our View: First retail pot sales won't be a big change ... A man's love for trees ... Grant will build life jacket loaner stations ... Roseburg guardsman who helped stop train attack returns home Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 5:51 PM By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 5:51 PM » Social News PORTLAND — Ten days ago, Oregon Army National Guard specialist Alek Skarlatos helped stop a terrorist attack on a high-speed train traveling through Belgium. On Sunday night, he returned to Oregon, looking weary and dressed in plaid and khakis. He described the international attention he's received in the meantime as "pretty unreal," reported The Oregonian ( http://bit.ly/1Q4qnxz ). Skarlatos, a 22-year-old Roseburg native, said he's looking forward to "relaxing and a little bit of normalcy." "I'm sure it will happen eventually," he said at Portland International Airport. "Just not sure how or when." Skarlatos was with his childhood friends Spencer Stone, a U.S. Air Force Airman, and Anthony Sadler, a Sacramento State University senior, on a Paris-bound train when the three helped subdue Ayoub El-Khazzani, a man with ties to radical Islam who was carrying a handgun and an assault weapon. Since then, he has been awarded France's highest honor, made television appearances and learned that the city of Sacramento plans to hold a parade to honor him, Stone and Sadler. The U.S. Army also plans to award him a medal for his actions. It's all been a little overwhelming, said Skarlatos. "If you were thrown in a ridiculous situation like that, and you just want to survive, you'd be surprised if everyone wanted to give you attention about it, too," he said. Anyone in a similar situation, he said, should "do something, because you're probably going to die anyway, so you might as well give it a shot." On Sunday, a spokesman from the Oregon Military Department met Skarlatos at his airport gate and accompanied him to baggage claim. While Skarlatos waited for his luggage to appeared, a man in military uniform walked up to shake his hand. Skarlatos has been a guardsman for three years and returned from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan in July. He said he eventually wants to go back to school and pursue a career in law enforcement, a goal he's had since he was 18. He grew up in the Sacramento area with Sadler and Stone and said he plans to keep a low profile until he is reunited with his friends. Skarlatos did, however, reveal one thing on his to-do list: laundry. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 5:51 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501