Heroic Action: CPL Spencer Collart Posthumously Awarded Navy and Marine Corps Medal

On Sept. 16, 2024, Gen. Eric M. Smith, The 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to the family of Cpl. Spencer Collart for his heroic attempt to save the lives of his fellow Marines following the fatal crash of their Osprey aircraft in Darwin, Australia, on Aug. 27, 2023.

Collart, an MV-22 crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363, and a native of Arlington, Va., initially escaped the Osprey after the crash, but reentered the wreckage to save the aircraft's pilots, Maj. Tobin Lewis and Capt. Eleanor LeBeau. Collart reached the cockpit, and attempted to rescue his fellow Marines, but ultimately perished in his effort.

“This kind of selflessness is rare, but it's the kind of bravery that defines Marines across generations,” said Gen. Smith. “In those critical moments, Cpl. Collart put his life on the line for his brothers and sisters, knowing full well the risks. He demonstrates what it means to live by our values of honor, courage, and commitment."