Veteran Strongman Recovers from Homelessness and Addiction to Inspire Others

Army combat veteran Trent Williams remembers the exact moment when his life was at a crossroads. 

The Photo That Changed Everything

Williams was homeless, living in his car outside the Oklahoma City VA hospital. In one hand, he clutched a photo of his young daughter, Ellsy. In the other, he gripped a pistol. Williams, beaten down by life, figured he had two choices – either live for his daughter or use the gun to try to end his life. 

“That was going to be it for me,” Williams told WTVM in Savannah, Georgia. 

He put the pistol down. 

Williams knew, despite struggling mentally from a deployment in Iraq, he needed to be around for his family. There were people who loved and supported him. That moment, as crushingly dark as it could get, was the catalyst for the former infantryman to change direction. 

Williams, a firefighter, started working on both his mental and physical health. He jumped into weightlifting and became a Guinness World Record holder for the heaviest triceps dips. He’s focusing on setting a new world record and on working with veterans and fellow first responders to overcome some of the same mental health obstacles he faced. 

“I was addicted to drugs, I was an alcoholic, and a complete wreck,” Williams told the Coastal Courier in 2019. “I was disconnected from God. I totally unplugged from everything. I was a really bad person and in a bad place.”

First Responder

After leaving the Army, Williams became a first responder. The job suited his nature to serve others in crisis, but he soon realized the work comes with much of the same trauma he witnessed in Iraq. Hoping to help other first responders struggling with similar issues, the veteran started working with Stomp Out Stigma, an organization developed by the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness to “reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance use disorders.” Stomp Out Stigma encourages people to share stories of addiction and mental health challenges to help others. 

"First responders aren't machines," Williams said. "We're people too." 

And Williams can use himself as an example. He came from nearly ending it all to setting world records. 

“What I have now, I want other people to have that,” he said. 

Struggle After Deployment 

Built like a temple, strong and healthy, one would not think Williams was once at rock bottom. 

“I was homeless there for a while, I was literally living in my car outside of the VA in Oklahoma City,” he said. 

In the Army, Williams enjoyed the camaraderie and mission-driven goals of being an infantryman. However, following his first deployment to Iraq, he struggled. Banged up with injuries, he became reliant on painkillers and was forced into an early retirement. But perhaps his greatest challenge came after he left the Army, fighting to adapt to civilian life. 

“I didn’t know who I was without infantry,” Williams said. “That was a big piece of me… I was finally good at something.” 

Homeless and in despair, Williams looked at the little girl in the photo – his daughter – and knew he had found his new passion for life. 

“I put the pistol down and promised her that day that I would do whatever it took,” Williams said.

'Never Give Up'

He was hired as a first responder in Long County, Georgia, a short distance southwest of Savannah. With a steady paycheck and a rewarding job, Williams began building up his confidence. The veteran started hitting the gym, developing strength too. On Sept. 29, 2018, he broke the world record for the heaviest weighted triceps dip. 

“My girls and my wife got to watch me become a world champion… best in the world,” Williams said. 

While therapy can work for some, Williams said there’s often a disconnect between the counselor, a stranger at first, and the client. That’s why veterans typically heal mental wounds faster by talking to other veterans who’ve lived similar lives. 

“It’s the hardest battle you’ll ever fight,” he said. “That battle in your head. I know what it’s like to suffer. I want to be that support system for people. Never give up. Keep moving forward. Find a purpose. Pursue that purpose. This life is worth living. I’m proof.”