Dogged beat reporting and building trust with sources leads to exclusive, heartbreaking interview with family of Marine being honored for heroism in Osprey crash

By Tara Copp and Mike Pesoli

Pentagon reporter Tara Copp has worked for months to build trust with the families of service members killed in Osprey crashes, as well as working her sources in the Pentagon and acquiring documents about fatal and other major crashes of the beleaguered aircraft. 

What resulted was a series of scoops on reasons for the crashes, interviews with military leaders and early looks at two recent major accident reports as well as emotional details from families who have opened up about their grief and push for change. 

Tara and video journalist Mike Pesoli’s sensitivity and familiarity with the family led to a heartbreaking, human-centered story in multiple formats about the decision-making of the military and the close bonds these families make with each other. 

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