The Marine Corps is declaring the five Marines who went missing when their planes collided last week dead.

Of those declared dead is 2015 Tremont High School graduate Marine Daniel Baker.

“This is a heartbreaking loss that the entire community is feeling right now,” said Tremont Superintendent Jeff Hinman.

Less than a week ago Marine Daniel Baker called his family for the final time. The conversations were long and detailed and the communication from the central Illinois native was described by loved ones as a gift from god, explained lifelong family friend Matt Miller

“The news that they’re calling off the search just transfers that hope to see Daniel again sometime in the future in heaven,” Miller adds.

Described as one of Tremont’s best and brightest students Baker was an Illinois state scholar, member of the robotics team, an outdoors-man, and one who cared for others.

“There was no doubt that he was enjoying his job,” said Hinman. He adds, “Daniel chose to serve his country and you could just tell he just loved every bit of being a marine.”

A stranger to no one Baker shared his smile everywhere he went. A void will now be missing from the tight knit Tremont community, but his legacy will live on through his family, and the ones who called him their friend.

The marine corps is still investigating what happened. Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell Maury, Baker’s squadron leader expressed his sympathy saying in part quote, “All of us in the SUMO family are extremely saddened.”

“We know this difficult decision was made after all resources were exhausted in the vigorous search for our marines. Our thoughts are heavy and our prayers are with all family and friends of all five aircrew.”