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The Marine Corps<\/a> is investigating the death of Lt. Col. Brett A. Hart, the executive officer of Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One, who was found dead at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma<\/a> on April 19, a Corps spokesman told Task & Purpose.<\/p>\n “There is an open investigation into the incident,” Capt. Christopher Harrison told Task & Purpose. “Further details will be available once the investigation is complete.”<\/p>\n Hart, 48, was just days from retirement after 30 years of service when he took his own life, according to multiple sources. He left behind a wife, son and daughter. A memorial service for Hart was held at the Yuma Chapel on April 26, the same day his retirement ceremony had been scheduled.<\/p>\n “No rank is immune to suicide, not even an O-5 in the Marine Corps with over 30 years of service and one week away from retirement,” Marine veteran Samuel Grayman wrote in a public post<\/a> on Facebook. “RIP Lt. Col Brett A. Hart, it was an honor to serve under your command at VMMT-204.”<\/p>\n Many of those who served with him during his career were shocked by his death, which came “out of the blue,” according to Task & Purpose columnist Carl Forsling, a friend and colleague of Hart.<\/p>\n “Brett was one of the people that was so with it, he would be the guy I would call for advice,” Forsling said. “I can’t figure out why he would do this.”<\/p>\n Hart enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1989 as a military policeman before earning a commission and beginning pilot training in May 1994, according to an official biography. He completed his initial training and was designated a naval aviator in August 1997 before training on and deploying multiple times as a CH-46E “Sea Knight” helicopter pilot. In 2006, Hart began flying MV-22B Ospreys<\/a> and eventually became an Osprey flight instructor.<\/p>\n All told, Hart spent 1,200 hours in the MV-22B and 1,400 hours in the cockpit of the CH-46E. He flew under the callsign “Stork,” a reference to a character in the 1978 film Animal House with just one memorable line of dialogue<\/a>, Forsling said.<\/p>\n Hart’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal; the Air Medal with Strike Numeral “2;” the Joint Service Commendation Medal; the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; the Joint Service Achievement Medal; and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, according to his bio.<\/p>\n “Lt. Col. Hart was an exceptional leader who cared deeply for his family, the Corps, and his fellow Marines,” Col. Peter L. McArdle, commanding officer of VMX-1, said in a statement to Task & Purpose. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of a great leader and friend, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to support his family throughout this difficult time.”<\/p>\n “The one thing that scares me about the whole thing, it’s not the paradigm of the ‘troubled Marine,’ or the sad person,” Forsling told Task & Purpose, adding that Marines may not tell others they love them since it could be perceived as weakness.<\/p>\n Lt Col Brett A Hart left this life on April 19, 2019. He was 48 years old.<\/p>\n Lt. Col. Brett Hart (center). Facebook photo<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lcpllutzlivetotell.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Lt-Col-2.jpeg\")
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