On the long drive from Pensacola to Milton, Champagne and his fellow Marines noticed a car flipped on its side with no emergency vehicles present. The Marines knew they needed to act. Champagne, without a second thought, jumped on top of the vehicle to climb inside and help the elderly couple who were still trapped in the car. “I got the wife out and then some of the other Marines escorted her to sit down,” recalled Champagne. “One of them called for the ambulance and then I helped the older gentleman get out… I wasn’t really thinking much when I was doing it… I just saw them and was like ‘Okay, I need to get them out’ so I got them out… I feel like that's just what a good person does.” Although Champagne remains humble to this day about his actions, on January 9th, 2025, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his professionalism, initiative, and total dedication to duty. The NAM is awarded by the Department of the Navy to Marines and Sailors who have performed commendably in routine duties or exceptional achievements, the latter applying to Champagne’s heroic actions. photo by Cpl. Colin Thibault
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