JACOB NOROTSKY

Subject Matter Expert

Wounded Warriors

Warriors Speak Spokesperson

Jacob Norotsky grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, the son of a Vietnam veteran who had become a pastor in their community. He’d always been interested in music, but when his father died by suicide while Jacob was in 10th grade, he was pulled to follow a different path.

“My dad had a legacy, as we called it, and I always felt like I needed to continue that in some way, to continue serving others,” says Jacob. “It seemed like going into the military was the best way to do that.”

In the Army, Jacob chose to pursue his passion for aviation — and by the time of his second deployment to Iraq in 2007, he was the crew chief on a blackhawk helicopter. His grueling eight-hour days included a lot of combat. During one air assault mission, while hovering above a team on the ground to provide support, Jacob’s aircraft was hit 36 times.

“It was just an absolutely crazy night,” says Jacob. “When it was all over, we were out of ammo and fuel.”

When Jacob returned home, he knew things weren’t right. He was diagnosed with permanent plantar fasciitis and severe nerve and muscle damage to his ankle. The combination of physical injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), coupled with being pushed out of the military, led Jacob through the dark valley of suicidal ideation. Thankfully, Jacob started to turn his life around after his wife signed him up for a five-day Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Project Odyssey®.

“The realization that I’m not alone and I’m not broken, it was absolutely amazing,” says Jacob.

It’s a realization Jacob wishes more warriors could experience, as he’s lost far too many military friends to suicide.

“There’s a group of men and women there for me, and that brotherhood we had in the military continues here,” says Jacob. “There’s a saying I have up on the wall. It says, ‘When the demons come to you in the night, brother, call me and we’ll fight them together.’ That’s what Wounded Warrior Project is. When the demons come, there’s somebody to call.”

Today, Jacob finds himself back on the path he once felt was his destiny — that of a minister, like his father. But instead of preaching sermons, he’s sharing his powerful story with audiences around the nation.

“My dad led me to a life of service from a young age,” says Jacob, “and that’s exactly what I’m doing now. I’m back serving my brothers and sisters, helping them learn about Wounded Warrior Project so they know help is out there. They don’t have to struggle for so long, like I did."