(KCEN) -- A South Florida family is desperate for help.
Their loved one a former US Marine has been in a Mexican jail for months.
Carlos Suarez explains how a love for surfing and a family relic played a part in his ordeal.
For four years her son fought in Iraq and Afghanistan wielding a machine gun.
But it was a surfing trip and a family heirloom firearm that finally brought this Marine's mother to tears.
Suarez's mother Olivia Hammar says, "It's unimaginable."
After coming home with post-traumatic stress disorder, the only thing that could calm Lance Corporal Jon Hammar was surfing.
"It was sort of a needed respite for him."
He bought this RV and with another Marine intended to drive to Costa Rica, but in Brownsville at the border he was stopped because he has with him his great-grandfather's shotgun.
His father Jon Hammar, Sr says, "It's the smallest caliber shotgun that they make, good for kids because it doesn't have a lot of kick."
Even though he declared it, he was arrested anyway and put in prison.
"It's just a silly, unfortunate, dumb thing to happen and now his life is in jeopardy."
Senator Nelson has sent a letter, other politicians have pledged to help, but four months later marine Jon Hammar is still in a Mexican jail.
"We keep telling him what we're doing and that we think it's going to end soon, but you can only say that for so long."
Now just before Christmas this military family fears the worst.
All from their Marine stumbling into a battle along our border that no one ever knew existed.
The former Marine's next hearing is scheduled for the end of January.
