Helping soldiers step by step

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) - It took Iraq War veteran Troy Yocum 4,000 miles on foot to reach Fredericksburg Sunday afternoon.

Pushing a cart and banging on a drum , he walked into town to raise awareness and money for hurting military families. His two dogs, Emmie and Harley were also putting one paw in front of the other.

"I know why they call it the Texas Hill Country," said Yocum, who enlisted in the Army shortly after September 11, 2001.

Yocum began his hike in Louisville, Kentucky , on April 17, 2010.  He touched the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California, on Veteran's Day and has already raised $125,000.  People are putting money in a jar he carries on his cart, pledging money online and via text message.

On a typical day, he averages 25 to 30 miles.  A personal email he received while deployed in Iraq from an Army buddy down on his luck got him pounding pavement.  He told KXAN his friend had retired from the military only to be left without a job and no way to pay bills or feed his family.

"Somebody needs to step up and help. I knew that I couldn't really ask or tell anybody to do anything as crazy as this, but at the same time I knew that maybe I was just crazy enough to walk across America," Yocum explained.

Walking is not only physically strenuous, but is taking a mental toll.

He said he's used to dodging cars, peeing on roadsides and has already gone through six pairs of shoes.

"I have had to endure kidney stones, my wife has been sick with the flu several times, my dog caught a disease that almost killed her," Yocum said.

His dog Emmie is on the road to recovery and getting ready to trek again.

"She's a therapy dog for wounded warriors and I thought it is her destiny to walk side-by-side with me across America. She is a trooper," Yocum added.

Emmie the Superdog, as Yocum refers to her, has already logged 2,000 miles.

His white Chihuahua Harley only 40 miles.

"Our goal is to have Harley clock in with 100 miles by the time the walk is over," Yocum explained.

Like both his dogs, Yocum relies on sponsors and the goodwill of strangers for food and shelter.

"I am trying to cut weight off, ever since Thanksgiving, people have been feeding me and feeding me and feeding me," Yocum said while laughing and touching his belly.

During his stay in Fredericksburg, he is staying for free at Camp David B & B and received coupons to eat for free at all most every restaurant in town. He will also tour the George Bush Gallery at the Admiral Nimitz Museum.

HEB also came forward and gifted him supplies to help keep him on the road.

Yocum also has another military mission on his agenda.  He is out to create a free day of shipping on care packages to deployed soldiers.

He is asking mayors, members of congress and governors to sign a Louisville Slugger baseball bat .

Fredericksburg Mayor Tom Musselman penned his name to show support.

His signature joins the likes of Jay Leno and Diane Sawyer.

"Care packages while you are deployed are like your lifeline. It is your ability to connect with home., the smell of your wife's or girlfriend's perfume," Yocum explained.

Yocum is slated to walk to Austin City Hall on Thursday. He plans on arriving by 3 p.m.

Yocum told KXAN he has reached out to Governor Perry to sign his bat but hasn't heard back.

"I will just sit there and wait for him," Yocum said.

Following his trip to Austin, he will walk to San Antonio where he will hand out laptops to wounded soldiers.

He used donated money to purchase them.

Yocum's wife, Mareike, is also accompanying him across the United States. Not only has Mareike walked with her husband, she also used to drive behind him in a motor home that they used to sleep in until it broke down.

Troy and Mareike got engaged at the 100 mile mark of the walk and married at the 200 mile mark.