SPENCER COLLART DIED A HERO, NOW HE’S RECEIVING AN AWARD


By bblouin
Spencer Collart memorial ceremony.

Defending our nation comes with a host of risks but not all of them are simply in the heat of battle. There is a lot of training and preparation that keeps our military at the top of its game. However, these exercises come with plenty of risks. Sometimes, things go wrong. On August 27, 2023, an Osprey aircraft crash during a training exercise would claim the lives of Cpl. Spencer Collart, Capt. Eleanor LeBeau, and Maj. Tobin Lewis. Now, Collart is getting an award for his bravery in attempting to save his fellow Marines on that fateful day.

Spencer Collart Passed Trying to Save His Fellow Marines

Marine Spencer Collart operated as the crew chief of an Osprey when the worst-case scenario took place. The aircraft hit another Osprey in a crash that would cause multiple impacts on the way down until falling into the trees of Melville Island. While Maj. Tobin Lewis did his best to stabilize the aircraft, his attempts couldn’t prevent the crash altogether, costing him and Capt. LeBeau their lives. Once hitting the Earth, the Osprey was on fire and both pilots were trapped among the flames inside the aircraft. As the aircraft’s crew chief, safety was priority one for Collart, who proved in his final moments that he was prepared to fulfill his duty no matter the cost. While 20 Marines lived, Collart and the two pilots passed away. These efforts are why Spencer Collart is receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

The Tragedy of Service

In the aftermath of the Marine Osprey crash in Australia are the families and friends dealing with the loss of their loved ones who were working to keep our nation free. A native of Arlington, Virginia, the Collart family is well aware of the military community. Those who knew Spencer are not surprised that he put his life on the line for others. Vigils have been held, questions have been asked, and grief continues, but the fact remains that while Spencer Collart died a hero, pain is a fickle beast. One of the things that have come out from the crash is that Spencer's family was notified in 2024 that witnesses saw him alive following the crash. He went back in to save those in need. The sobering reality is that when put up to the ultimate test, the Marine was willing to sacrifice himself for his fellow man. Even in these stories of heroism and the tragedy of death, the Collart family has remained humble. They are also calling for recognition of the pilots who passed away in the Osprey crash. Spencer Collart’s family has pointed out that while their son passed away with the pilots, their maneuvers saved the lives of the other 20 Marines on board at the time.

Can the Death of Spencer Collart Inspire Change?

It took around a year for some of the questions surrounding the crash to be answered because such aviation events can take quite some time to investigate. However, there are still plenty of questions being asked about the use of Osprey. This has been ongoing surrounding various crashes involving the aircraft. The V-22 has had 12 crashes, with 10 of them outside of combat zones since it began taking on operations in 2007. Due to a variety of reasons, including the crashes, Ospreys were not supposed to be back fully operational until mid-2025. However, they brought them back only months after grounding them. It’s unclear if the aircraft are going to be completely phased out but this feels unlikely, despite calls for change. The reward of freedom is the risk of those serving paying the ultimate price. Losing Spencer Collart is a reminder within the military community and beyond of what it takes to maintain the American way of life. Suggested reads:


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