FREMONT — Through sunshine and downpours, two retired U.S. Marines have been hiking across the country this summer hoping to raise awareness for America’s missing soldiers. The journey from Massachusetts to Oregon along U.S. 20 brought Sergeant Major Justin LeHew, a native of Columbus Grove, and Sergeant Major Colemen Kinzer through Ohio this week.
After graduating from Columbus Grove and enlisting in the Marines in 1988, LeHew had an illustrious military career, receiving the Navy Cross for his actions in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and earning a Bronze Star in the Battle of Najaf in 2004. He was inducted to the Ohio Military Hall of Fame in 2012, and upon retiring from his highly-decorated service, he found a new calling: search and recovery operations for U.S. soldiers missing in action.
LeHew is now the COO of History Flight, a non-profit dedicated to recovering and returning service members back to the U.S. These individuals have been listed as Missing in Action or deemed non-recoverable in conflicts from WWII to the Vietnam War. Kinzer is an assistant operations manager at History Flight.
LeHew and Kinzer departed from Boston Harbor on June 6, commencing the journey that they have aptly named The Long Road. They say this was the perfect time to make the trek and spread their mission as the world starts to ease back into operation from the coronavirus pandemic.
“The world’s opening back up, so it’s a pretty good time to try to get people re-energized and re-invigorated that we have 81,600 missing U.S. service members,” LeHew said. “U.S. 20 is the longest road, and this is basically getting out and meeting people and being able to talk about this on the ground level that we, as Americans, don’t leave our dead and wounded behind.”
LeHew and Kinzer have gained a sizable following on their journey. A Facebook group for The Long Road has accrued over six thousand members tracking LeHew and Kinzer as they make their way across the country. LeHew said that people have come out “in droves” to support them, providing the duo hospitality, offering donations, or even logging a few miles with them on the highway as they make their journey.
“The people we come across are great,” LeHew said. “This cause is in everybody’s hearts. It doesn’t matter if they were in the military; this is one thing that’s not political. It’s one of those missions that everybody wants to be a part of.”
The outpouring of support has been especially meaningful to LeHew as he passes through his home state. He said he’s received dozens of messages of support from Columbus Grove residents, giving him a chance to reconnect with his roots.
“I truly am a Buckeye and came from this state,” LeHew said, adding that he chalks up his work ethic to being raised in Columbus Grove. “I was raised by the people in the town: neighbors, teachers, high school coaches. Everybody knew everybody, and they still today are some of the hardest working people I have ever seen in my life.”
Though they’ve been hiking now for nearly two months, the bulk of their lengthy journey still remains ahead of them. LeHew and Kinzer will have passed through 11 states and logged over 3,300 miles by the time they reach their destination in Newport, OR. They hope to be home to their families for Christmas.
Those who wish to support The Long Road can visit their website at www.teamlongroad.com.
