US Edition 
France train attack: Would you take on a terrorist?
The actions of two off-duty US servicemen saved countless lives during Friday's terrorist attack in France. Having served with US Forces, I would expect nothing less
It was a particularly unlucky would-be murderer, no doubt driven by the tenets of the Islamist death cult, that he chose to do his mischief on Friday in a railway carriage where three Americans, two of them off-duty US servicemen, just happened to be sitting. It was very lucky for the many other tourists and commuters that Spencer Stone of the US Air Force, Alek Skarlatos of the National Guard and their friend Anthony Sadler were there.
Had the traditional European reserve been in play it is likely that there would have been wholesale murder. As it was the strong tradition of US servicemen to be "always on duty", they no doubt saved lives.
In my experience, the US serviceman does not experience the excruciating levels of self-consciousness that dogs the European armies. Despite a low during the Vietnam era, US service personnel are proud of their country’s uniform and service and the nation is proud right back.
Listen carefully in any US airport for the frequent announcements inviting US service personnel to special lounges. When they fly in uniform they will always be offered an upgrade and they will always refuse, regarding sitting with the other citizens their duty. Is it any wonder that they respond by serving their country so well?
Contrast the indifference to the servicemen and women of our own country. It was recently reported that a hotel in Scotland asked a veteran of the Iraq War to take off his services charity shirt as it featured a Union flag. That would never happen in the US.
It is true to say, that while brash and likely to complain in restaurants and shops, the US are among the most polite folk you could meet. On the many occasions I have served with US Forces I am always struck at their patience and sense of fair play.
It is the cornerstone of their huge nation that the common good is symbolised by the country’s flag, where our military motivation here in the UK is more tribal – hence the (now threatened) regimental system. I would like to think that any British serviceman would have done the same on the train at Arras.
But it is not just servicemen in the US who would come forward in a crisis, as illustrated by the heroes of Flight 93 on 9/11 who died in their attempt to tackle the hijackers. It is an American thing. I salute it.
Col Tim Collins OBE is a former SAS officer who commanded the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment during the invasion of Iraq. He is a specialist in the field of counterinsurgency and security.