Marines give highest noncombat medal to family of Osprey crew chief who died trying to save pilots

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.

The crash in August 2023 was one of four fatal accidents since 2022 that have drawn increased scrutiny of the Osprey, which flies both like a helicopter and an airplane. The Associated Press has reported on the mechanical and safety issues the program has faced, and there are multiple reviews underway to see if the complex aircraft has the resources needed to improve its reliability.

Bart Collart called his son “one of the best knuckleheads you ever wanted to hang out with.” He said the pilots and Spencer “lost their lives while managing to save the lives of every Marine they were transporting,” and he credited the pilots with leveling out the Osprey before it hit the ground, to give the troops they were transporting a better chance of surviving.

Collart’s Osprey was participating in an Australian military exercise when it ended up following too closely behind the lead aircraft and maneuvered to avoid it, ultimately putting it in an unrecoverable fall.

Seconds after the Osprey hit the ground, the aircraft filled with smoke and flames. According to witness reports in the crash investigation. Collart, the crew chief, had been standing in the tunnel even as the aircraft was going down. Most of the 23 troops on board escaped out the back, including a commander who told investigators he saw Collart escape out a side door.

A site team later found Collart’s tether — what he’d use to latch onto the Osprey to move around during flight — undamaged outside the aircraft.

Collart escaped the burning aircraft “and immediately began ensuring the safety of the Marines around him,” Smith said. But Capt. Eleanor LeBeau and aircraft commander Maj. Tobin Lewis were still trapped inside, and Collart went back in to try to save them.

Investigators believe he may have unbuckled Lewis from his restraints before he succumbed to the smoke and flames.

One of the Marines who was riding in the back and survived is the son of Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Ben Watson, who most recently served as the commanding general of the First Marine Division. Watson attended the ceremony to honor Collart’s service.

Alexia Collart holds The Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the USMCs highest non-combat medal, that was posthumously awarded to her son, Cpl. Spencer Collart, during a ceremony on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

A marine places a photo of Cpl. Spencer Collart on an easel before a ceremony where he is posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps medal on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. Cpl. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith, center left, presents a the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and citation to Bart Collart and his wife, Alexia, the parents of Cpl. Spencer Collart, during a ceremony on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Alexia Collart, left, holds The Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the USMCs highest non-combat medal, that was posthumously awarded to her son, Cpl. Spencer Collart, during a ceremony on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Bart Collart, the father of Cpl. Spencer Collart, looks up during the playing of the National Anthem during a Navy and Marine Corps medal awarding ceremony for his son on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Bart Collart, center, visits with friends of his son, Cpl. Spencer Collart, who was posthumously presented the USMCs highest non-combat medal, The Navy and Marine Corps Medal, during a ceremony on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith, left, presents a the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and citation to the parents of Cpl. Spencer Collart, Alexia and Bart Collart during a ceremony on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith, speaks during a ceremony posthumously awarding Cpl. Spencer Collart, photo at left, with the Navy and Marine Corps medal on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Bart Collart and Alexia Collart, right, speak about their son, Cpl. Spencer Collart, who was posthumously presented the USMCs highest non-combat medal, The Navy and Marine Corps Medal, during a ceremony on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Marcell Ozuna homered, Gio Urshela drove in three runs and Spencer Schwellenbach pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 on Wednesday night.

The win allowed the Braves to stay within two games of the Mets for the final National League wild card spot.

The Braves are 1-4 against the Reds this season.

Ozuna greeted Tony Santillan (2-3) with his 38th home run of the season in the seventh, a solo shot that broke a 1-1 tie. The blast ended Ozuna's home run drought at 26 games and his RBI drought at 19 games. Urshela drove in two runs with a bases loaded single, pushing the lead to 4-1.

In the eighth, Michael Harris II homered and Ozuna doubled to knock in Eli White and record his 100th RBI of the season.

Urshela drove in his third run with a ground-rule double in the ninth.

Schwellenbach (7-7) made his 19th start for the Braves. In six innings, he allowed one run on five hits while striking out five and walking two.

The Reds managed three hits in the first five innings and pushed their only run across in the sixth. Elly De La Cruz hit his ninth triple into the right field corner to lead off the inning. De La Cruz scored on TJ Friedl's safety squeeze.

Jakob Junis made his fourth start for the Reds. He was pressed into a starting role when Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo were injured. Junis retired the first 11 Braves’ batters before Ozuna doubled. Matt Olsen’s single to center broke the scoreless tie in the fourth.

Junis pitched six innings, allowing just two hits. He retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: Ozzie Albies made his first rehab start Tuesday night. “He hit off lefties all night. Everything was good. I hope he can get some right on right at bats, tonight," manager Brian Snitker said.

Reds: The Reds are deciding whether Hunter Greene will make a start Sunday. “He will make two starts,” David Bell said.

UP NEXT

The final of the three-game series on Thursday afternoon will feature the Reds' rookie Julian Aguiar (2-0, 4.88 ERA) against Braves' veteran Chris Sale (17-3, 2.35 ERA).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl grounds out against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds left fielder Spencer Steer catches a fly ball hit by Atlanta Braves' Ramón Laureano during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Jakob Junis throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson catches the ball to get Cincinnati Reds' Ty France out during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Atlanta Braves' Orlando Arcia hits a ground ball against the Cincinnati Reds during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Ozuna homers, Urshela drives in 3 as Braves beat Reds 7-1

Ozuna homers, Urshela drives in 3 as Braves beat Reds 7-1

Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson, right, celebrates his home run against the Cincinnati Reds with teammate Marcell Ozuna during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)