Jason A. Lehto
Staff Sergeant, United States Marine Corps Reserve
October 31, 1973 – December 28, 2004
Age – 31
Mt. Clemens, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Marine Wing Support Group, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, Mt. Clemens, MI
Died from a non-hostile incident in Anbar Province, Iraq
SSG Lehto enlisted in the Marines after graduating from Clintondale High School in Clinton Township in 1992. He served on active duty until 1996, when he joined the reserves.
Before leaving for Iraq in August, Lehto worked as a service technician for SBC Communications in Trenton.
He was trained by the military to defuse anything from a pipe bomb to an atom bomb. He was an outstanding young man who loved his family and he was gung-ho military and gung-ho American. He had a very dangerous mission and his family was worried about him and what he had to do over there. But SSG Lehto always walked to the beat of a different drummer. Even when he joined the military, he just walked in one day and said, ‘Mom, Dad, I joined the Marines.’
He was remembered as follows by two of his fellow Marines.
“I met Jason back in 94′ at Camp LeJeune 2nd LSB, when (I believe) he had just come back from Okinawa. We spent a lot of time together at East Carolina and on deployment. We managed to find a section of Zakynthos Isle that was not occupied by Sailors or Marines. Being young, single and on a holiday island, I assure you, we had a blast – great wingman!!!
I also spent time with him back in MI, when I was there for my sister’s wedding. Every time I drive through Hamtramck, I think of Jason. It was pleasant surprise to hear that Jason was attending EOD School in Indian Head – Maryland, which is only a few miles away from my house.
I have nothing but kind words for him. He was goofy, quirky and fun to be around with. I will never forget his Z24, that car was a riot:-) It pains for me to hear when a Marine (especially someone you knew so well) passes. I truly thought I was safe from hearing about any friend perishing due to military action. I will always remember Jason for the great times we had. He was a proud and honorable man.
My prayers and wishes go out to Jason’s family.
Farewell old friend
Semper Fi – Patrick de Rover – Atlanta, GA”
To the Lehto Family,
I wish to send my condolences on the upcoming anniversary of Jason’s death. I was a Ssgt. when I met and deployed with Jason. Although I knew him only a short time, he immediately had a profound effect on me. I was close by when he passed and will never forget his amazing smile and ability to make people laugh. I think about him frequently and intend to raise a glass in his honor at the MWSS-472 annual Mess Night next month. Those who served with Jason will never forget him.
Semper Fi,
CWO2 Patrick Robb“
Patrick Robb of Haverhill, MA