WWII veteran's suicide leads to help for others

Local group wins $250,000 to build military retreat for veterans with PTSD
WDRB News
Posted: Jun 01, 2013

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A local non-profit organization has beat out other groups across the nation in the fight to win $250,000 for military families.

With a final push from veterans for votes in Home Depot's 'Aprons in Action' competition, the organization took home the grand prize.

For Troy Yocum, this moment, has been a long time in the making.

It started in 1981, when his grandfather, a World War II veteran suffering from PTSD, committed suicide.

"As a kid I didn't' understand it, until I went to Iraq myself and realized a lot of my friends and comrades were going through a lot of similar things," says Troy Yocum.

Yocum came home and set out on a mission across the country.

In 2011, we caught up with him as he was walking across the country to raise money for veterans in need.

From that came the non-profit Active Heroes, which has helped military families needing financial assistance, and home repairs.

But Yocum still dreamed of a place to help veterans like his grandfather, suffering from PTSD.

"My grandfather's suicide definitely touched me as a kid. I'm now 34 years old, and that dream of building a retreat has always been there," says Troy Yocum.

That dream, will now become a reality.
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