A search in the Alaska wilderness in which an Oklahoma man participated with his Marine Corps battle buddies to find their brother in arms has been officially called off until weather conditions improve.

Former Marine and Woodward (Oklahoma) High School graduate Justin Kuehn spent nearly two weeks in Alaska this month in a massive search for Kuehn’s best friend and former Marine Corps battle partner Casey Graham. 

Graham disappeared December 9 after going out on his snow machine to break a trail for the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program. He didn’t return that evening and a search was initiated that included Kuehn and 12 other Marine Corps brothers who simply wanted to bring home their brother for a proper burial, they said.

Despite finding his snow machine and his helmet near the Kuskokwin River, officials indicated there was no evidence of self rescue after it appeared that Graham had run his snow machine accidentally into an open lead in the river. 

Battling continued weather problems and a fast current under the ice in the river, officials have temporarily suspended the search while they wait for better weather conditions, according to G.W. Burnham of the Alaska Native News.

“They tried using a remote control vehicle and after they failed with that and still couldn’t locate him, they suspended the search for now,” Burnham said. “The Kuskowi River is totally frozen over now except some occasional open leads.” 

The group of Marines made their way back home, discouraged but glad they tried to help find Graham. According to Kuehn, their experience with the locals who live in McGrath was something they will never forget. 

“Some of the locals, I think, are doing some things (still searching),” said Kuehn’s mother Kristi Kuehn. “The guys have talked about going back when they start the search again. But for now, for sure keep them in your thoughts.”

Graham, who was raised in the small village of McGrath, had only returned recently to help the Marine Corps with the Toys for Tots delivery to the towns of Tokotna and Nikolai. He was reportedly out breaking the snow trail for that delivery when he failed to return that evening.

According to Kristi Kuehn, locals organized a search team immediately and began looking for Graham. Skid marks were found on the ice leading to the water and his snow machine was found by an Alaska state trooper who took to the skies in the search. The wildlife trooper discovered Graham’s snow machine in open water, and townspeople found his helmet.

As soon as Justin Kuehn found out that one of his Marine brothers was missing, he launched an effort to fund the trip to Alaska for himself and 12 other Marines, all who served with Graham on at least one of the two tours he pulled in Afghanistan.

“When he heard about the incident, he began planning to go to Alaska and help,” Kristi Kuehn said. “There was nothing that was going to keep those boys back from there.”

Justin Kuehn set up a GoFundMe account for Graham to help pay for all of his fellow Marines to come and help search. The site has already nearly cleared $20,000.

“My brothers and I know Corporal Casey Graham from serving with him in the United States Marine Corps, 1st Marine Division, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Blackfoot Company, 1st Platoon. He was a stellar Marine, an outstanding friend, and considered family by all who knew him,” Kuehn wrote on the GoFundMe account. “My brothers and I are wanting to go help search, as well as attend the funeral. Ticket prices to Anchorage, Alaska with follow-on tickets to McGrath are not cheap, and we need your help to be able to make it up there to see our brother found and properly laid to rest. Thank you for whatever you can spare to help us out. We just want to bring our brother home to his family.”

According to Kristi Kuehn, Graham had just been to Oklahoma to serve as a groomsman in Justin Kuehn’s wedding. The two had connected during Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego, California in 2009 and then wound up serving in combat together in Afghanistan.

From there, the friendship only strengthened, Kristi Kuehn said.

Van Horn writes for The Woodward (Okla.) News