Josh McCabe grew up on the outskirts of Fort Worth in a family steeped in military service. His grandfather was a senior chief in the U.S. Navy, his father served 36 years, and his mother and cousins also wore the uniform. “I was raised in a military family,” McCabe says, recalling a childhood that was “very structured, very patriotic, very all‑American.”
From Navy sonar technician to veteran advocate
McCabe enlisted in the Navy in 2003, becoming a master helmsman on ships that navigated the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. A severe training‑exercise accident – being thrown ten feet into the air and landing on his head – taught him that true leadership sometimes means doing the opposite of what protocol dictates. A shipmate, Seaman Christopher Bergrum, defied medical orders to move an injured sailor and saved McCabe, an act McCabe cites as a model of leadership.
After eight years of service, structural downsizing forced McCabe out of the Navy in 2011. The sudden loss of daily purpose left him feeling “traumatizingly free,” and he later struggled with suicidal thoughts. The pain became personal when his uncle, a Vietnam veteran, died by suicide three years ago, and his father succumbed to non‑Hodgkin lymphoma after a delayed VA response.
Local action on veteran mental health
Motivated by these losses, McCabe now serves as quartermaster for VFW Post 10374 in northwest Tarrant County and as the VFW District 21 suicide‑awareness chair. He coordinates 16 local VFW posts to provide mental‑health coaching, education, and crisis‑warning signs to veterans and first responders. “If they’re not going to look out for them, somebody else has to,” he says.
Beyond the VFW, McCabe founded a Veteran’s Council Business Resource Group while working at Mercedes‑Benz for a decade, establishing three chapters nationwide to help corporations recognize veterans’ contributions. He also completed coursework and earned diplomas in mental‑health coaching to better serve his community.
Family and faith as anchors
McCabe credits his wife and his Christian faith for helping him reduce alcohol use and improve his own mental health. He lives about a half‑hour north of Fort Worth in Rhome and continues to travel across the region, speaking to military families about warning signs of distress.
His work reflects a broader need for community‑driven support when government systems fall short. By combining personal experience, military tradition, and a commitment to service, McCabe strives to ensure that veterans in Fort Worth and beyond receive the care they deserve.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
