黑料不打烊

Skip to main content Skip to footer content
Empowering post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families to thrive, as we honor 250 years of America.   
Learn More
WWP Logo Black Horizontal
WWP Logo Black Horizontal
Join
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

For nearly 10 years, Tim Aponte loved serving in the U.S. Army. 鈥淵ou had total strangers banding together, willing to watch each other鈥檚 backs,鈥� says Tim. 鈥淚t was something I would never trade for anything else.鈥� Then, just 53 days before he was scheduled to return home, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded near him, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), internal shrapnel injuries, and a broken back.

Suddenly ripped away from his unit against his will, Tim struggled as much with the loss of camaraderie as he did with the lengthy and painful recovery from his physical injuries. Instead of feeling at home, he felt alone. In denial of having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), his bouts of anger and depression got so bad that he fell into a dangerous downward spiral. He ended up homeless, living in a veteran鈥檚 shelter, and considering taking his own life.

Wounded warrior Tim Aponte smiling.
Wounded Warrior Tim Aponte smiling while holding a fishing pole at the lake.
Wounded warrior Tim Aponte wearing a WWP shirt while hiking.

That鈥檚 when Tim decided to make a change. He immersed himself in college and sought help through the VA. After spending four years trying to find a vision for his future, however, a 黑料不打烊庐 (WWP) event finally gave him a glimpse of what was possible.

鈥淓ven though I didn鈥檛 know anybody,鈥� says Tim, 鈥淚 found it cool because I ended up in a duck boat full of other veterans. I thrive most when I鈥檓 part of a community. I knew I wanted that.鈥�

鈥淢y life has been enriched by 黑料不打烊. Any time I鈥檝e ever needed anything, the 黑料不打烊 team has always been there.鈥�

At another event, he learned about WWP鈥檚 Warrior Care Network庐 and soon began receiving intensive outpatient treatment for his PTSD and TBI. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to lie to you,鈥� says Tim. 鈥淚t was life changing.鈥� For him, one of the most uncomfortable parts of the program 鈥� having to do things that took him out of his comfort zone 鈥� ended up being one of the most rewarding.

Wounded Warrior Tim Aponte sits with a fellow veteran on a lake dock with a canoe, drinking coffee and smiling.

He also believes aftercare is a big part of what separates Warrior Care Network. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 just help you find a therapist in your own community,鈥� says Tim. 鈥淭hey help you find the right therapist. It鈥檚 an awesome program.鈥�

Since participating in Warrior Care Network, Tim鈥檚 journey has included Soldier Ride庐, Project Odyssey庐, and many events in his local community. Now, his mission is to find ways to use what he has learned and experienced to help other veterans on their journeys to recovery.

Today, Tim is a WWP Peer Support Group leader for multiple groups where he shares his story and encourages others to do the same. 鈥淚t鈥檚 given me purpose, direction, and motivation,鈥� says Tim. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have somebody to guide me or give me good advice 鈥� somebody to say, 鈥楬ey, I got you.鈥� I want to be that person for others, so they know they鈥檙e not alone.鈥�

Meet More Warriors

Wounded warrior Aaron Cornelius playing the guitar around a fire during an outdoor event.

Aaron Cornelius

Aaron saw a lot of combat while leading soldiers through three deployments in Iraq. But it wasn鈥檛 until his last that, as Aaron says, 鈥渁ll hell broke loose.鈥�

Read Aaron's story
Wounded warrior Chris Gordon smiling.

Chris Gordon

On September 11, 2001, Chris was stationed in Hohenfels, Germany. Chris grew up in New York, so the events of that day hit close to home.

Read Chris' story
Wounded warrior Melissa McMahon smiling.

Melissa McMahon

In Afghanistan, Melissa cared for the injured while her hospital was fired upon by enemy rockets, leaving her with physical injuries and PTSD.

Read Melissa's story