Marines give highest noncombat medal to family of Osprey crew chief who died trying to save pilots
The Marine Corps in a ceremony at the commandant’s headquarters has presented their highest noncombat medal to the parents of Cpl. Spencer Collart, who died last year after his V-22 Osprey crashed in Australia
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Marine Corps in a ceremony at the commandant’s headquarters on Monday presented their highest noncombat medal to the parents of Cpl. Spencer Collart, who died last year after his V-22 Osprey crashed in Australia.
Collart, 21, survived the crash but went back into the burning aircraft to try to save the pilots, who were trapped.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith spoke with emotion in addressing the fallen Marine's parents, Bart and Alexia Collart, who are from Arlington, Virginia. "You raised a Marine who in the final moments of his life thought not of himself but of this fellow Marines,” Smith said. “He didn’t stop to think of the fire or the danger.”
During the ceremony, Smith, who is the Marine Corps' top military officer, cried twice.
