Marine from Callaway one of 16 victims in Mississippi plane crash

A mid-Missouri Marine was one of the 16 servicemen that died in a plane crash in Mississippi on July 10.

An official release from the Marine Corps revealed that Talon Leach, 27, of Callaway County, was a sergeant with the 2nd Raider Battalion, Special Operations Command. He was active duty and was a critical skills operator.

Sergeant Leach was a decorated Marine. His awards included the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and three Certificates of Appreciation.

According to a press release from the Marine Corps, the plane that crashed was a KC-130T.