CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Veteran and Orange Grove native Justin Rokohl served in the United States Marine Corps. In 2008, while serving in Afghanistan, he was hit by an IED. That explosion caused him to lose both of his legs.
The Texas based non-profit "Helping A Hero" is partnering with Bass Pro Shops to gift him and his fiancée a brand-new, wheelchair-accessible house.
"It's a weird and amazing feeling,” he said. “You know, it's always hard taking gifts from anyone. When someone joins the military, it’s not something you're thinking you're going to get something back from that. Usually, you join because you want to serve."
Helping A Hero founder Meredeth Iler said this new home will let Rokohl live out his life exactly where he wants to be.
"This is going to be very special land, because it's land where Justin and his fiancée Carrie are going to be married, have kids and, most importantly, continue to work with their Dark Horse Archery Veteran Foundation," she said.
Rokohl's foundation introduces other veterans to archery, even those with adaptive needs. Since 2021, he's connected nearly 200 veterans with bows and arrows.
"I get a lot from it as we give out,” he said. “Helping a vet get into this fun thing that we all enjoy is really nice."
Having a place to continue his foundation is just one of the things that will make his new home special.
But there's more.
Rokohl's best friend and fellow marine Colton Rusk, who was also from Orange Grove was with him through his entire recovery -- helping Rokohl through rehabilitation and staying with him at the hospital after his amputations.
"He had an opportunity to get out of the Marine Corps and he didn't,” she said. “He was deployed and killed with a 35 in Afghanistan in 2010."
In remembrance of his best friend, an apple tree was planted at the location of Rokohl's future home.
“My main dedication now is just keeping his name alive in this world, and that apple tree is going to be a big, significant part of this house and something I can look on in fondness every day," he said.
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