FREEHOLD — The body of a U.S. Marine corporal who died in a plane crash will be returned to New Jersey on Monday, escorted by motorcycle clubs and veterans organizations.

Cpl. Dan Baldassare, 20, died July 10 when a military plane crashed into a Mississippi soybean field, killing him and 15 others.

The Strength and Honor Motorcycle Club NJ along with nearby club chapters and veterans group will escort Baldassare's body from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home in Freehold, according to the motorcycle club's Facebook page.

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Baldassare grew up in Colts Neck and played football for Colts Neck High School before he joined the service in 2015. He served with the Marine Corps' Marine Aeriel Refueler Transport Squadron 452, Marine Air Group-49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and was stationed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York.

There he worked as a fixed wing aircraft crew master on KC-130s, extended range air tankers used to refueling planes in flight. It was the crash of one KC-130 that killed him and 15 other men.

Baldassare achieved the rank of corporal on June 1, and had also received the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, according to the Marines.

The procession is expected to reach Freehold by 12:30 p.m.

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Amanda Oglesby: 732-557-5701; aoglesby@GannettNJ.com