Sgt. Talon Leach of the U.S. Marine Corps was kind, musical and always ready to help a friend, those near him say.
The 27-year-old, who grew up in Fulton, was aboard the aircraft that crashed July 10 in Mississippi, killing 15 Marines and one Navy serviceman.
"He's a hero in my eyes," Talon's father Tab Leach, of Fulton, said. "I'd take his place if I could."
Talon was born in Anchorage, Alaska, to Tab and his then-wife Lisa Corbet In 1995, the family moved to Tab's family farm in Callaway County.
James Blankenship and Talon became friends as young teens after meeting at youth group.
"We both had similar styles of music," Blankenship said. "I introduced him to metal and he took it and ran with it."
Tab said Talon was a compassionate friend.
"He always picked the underdog person in the crowd to befriend and stick up for," he said.
One of Blankenship's favorite memories of Talon is music-related. The year was 2011, Talon was stationed in Maryland and one of the pair's favorite bands was set to play nearby.
"He bought me a plane ticket and flew me up to Maryland," Blankenship remembered. "I spent a few days with him on base and then we drove all the way to Philly together to see the Black Dahlia Murder. It's one of my favorite memories with him - not even the concert, but just the drive there."
During their last conversation on July 9, Blankenship said they talked about the new bands they discovered.
"I've found a lot of solace in listening to the music we both loved, screaming along to the words," Blankenship said. "I've been going through and looking at our old messages, and seeing bands he recommended that I never had a chance to listen to. (I've been) listening to them and being like: man, I wish I could tell him how awesome this is."
Talon and Blankenship also spent a lot of time hanging out at the Fulton skate park with friends. About 30 of those friends gathered last week to skate in his honor and seek comfort in each other's company.
After Talon graduated North Callaway high school, he drifted a little.
"One day I just (asked) him if he'd ever thought about the military," his father said. "A few weeks later, he said he'd gone and talked to the recruiters."
Leach encouraged him, and soon Talon joined up.
"I asked him which he'd joined and he said the Marine Corps," Tab said. "He said that if he was going to do it, he was going to go into the hardest one."
Blankenship said he suspects Talon was looking for adventure.
"I think, for him, a lot of it was the rush," Blankenship said. "He'd worked at gas stations and was bored all the time."
Tab said his son loved his work.
"He was heavily involved in the Marine Corps outreach programs like Toys for Tots," he said. "He was always the first one to volunteer to help anybody move."
Memorial plans
Tab said the family has been planning a celebration of Talon's life at North Callaway High School, though the details are still up in the air.
Talon's resting place, however, is already settled.
Tab said Talon's wife, Sara Leach, suggested Arlington National Cemetery to him. Arlington is near her home in Virginia. Talon agreed, but he picked his own clothes.
"Talon decided to be buried in his Crocs, his cutoff blue jean shorts, a metal T-shirt and his ball cap," Tab said. "That's the way Talon was - 'That's what I wear, when I'm on the farm.'"
Talon's funeral date isn't determined yet.
Community support for Talon's family has abounded.
"It's so heartwarming to feel a community share the burden of grief with you like this community has, this state really," Leach said.
He said Gov. Eric Greitens called to offer condolences. Flags in Fulton were set at half-staff.
During the Frogs and Hogs event in Mokane on Saturday, members of American Veterans Post 153 passed a hat for contributions to help with expenses.
"When I left Saturday night they were still collecting money," AMVETS spokesperson Don Dettmann said. "I was just overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone at the event."
Jefferson City's American Legion Post 5 will host a benefit dinner for Talon's parents from 4-8 p.m. Aug. 12. Details can be found at bit.ly/2uGQbP8.
Tab said donations made to him would go into a memorial fund he plans on setting up to help Sara Leach, with leftover money going to Talon's seven nieces' and nephews' college funds.