Marine Cpl. Spencer R. Collart who died trying to save crew in fiery Osprey crash to receive service's top noncombat medal

Cpl. Spencer R. Collart had safely escaped the aircraft. But the 21-year-old saw that the Osprey's two pilots were unaccounted for. Despite the smoke and flames, he went back in.

Collart “heroically reentered the burning cockpit of the aircraft in an attempt to rescue the trapped pilots,” the official Marine Corps investigation into the crash found. “He perished during this effort.”

For his valor, Collart will be posthumously awarded the service’s highest noncombat award: the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. It is an honor awarded for acts of heroism at great risk to the servicemember’s life.

It didn’t surprise his dad that Spencer tried to save the pilots.

https://heraldcourier.com/news/state-and-regional/marine-who-died-trying-to-save-crew-in-fiery-osprey-crash-to-receive-services-top/article_66c6a8a8-a460-591b-a6ed-7e24c920dffe.html