- A Soldier’s name will live on, not just in spirit, as Soldiers of the 7th Civil Support Command remember Lt. Col. Douglas Yocum at a street dedication ceremony here on Daenner Kaserne, April 2. Yocum Way runs in front of the 7th CSC headquarters. (Photo by Spc. Glenn M. Anderson, 221st Public Affairs Detachment)

A Soldier's name will live on, not just in spirit, as the 7th Civil Support Command, honors the life of Army Lt. Col. Douglas Yocum, 45-year old native of Burlington County, N.J., at a street dedication ceremony held here on Daenner Kaserne, April 2.
Soldiers, friends and Family members gathered on the street in front of the 7th CSC headquarters as everyone paid tribute to Yocum who died Feb. 4, 2010 in a Philadelphia hospital following an illness.
Yocum was born into a military family and it was the family that he came to embrace. The Army Family would become the defining point of his career and life. Throughout his career, he served as a military lawyer and was a third generation of military lawyers in his family. His grandfather was an Army Judge Advocate during and after World War II; and his father was an Air Force Judge Advocate.
As an Army Reserve Soldier, he served in a variety of positions with the 7th Army Reserve Command and the 154th Legal Service Office in Schwetzingen, Germany, the Southern European Task Force Augmentation Unit in Longare, Italy, and the 7th CSC in Kaiserslautern. In his civilian capacity, he served as a Senior Civilian Attorney for the SETAF office of the Staff Judge Advocate in Vicenza, Italy.
“We have long wished to find a fitting way to recognize Doug’s service and the tremendous impact he had on this unit and the United States Army,” said Brig. Gen. Jimmie Jaye Wells, commanding general of the 7th Civil Support Command and presiding officer of the ceremony.
“This street that runs in front of our headquarters will be forever called Yocum Way,” Wells continued as he paid tribute. “Doug will always be with us, and we will be reminded of him and the selfless service he rendered to his country.”
Yocum was diagnosed with an illness and it took a turn for the worse, the command immediately mobilized Reserve Soldiers on three continents to medically retire him and ensure his family obtained the benefits of his 19 years of service to the Army. This process normally takes months and was complete in less than 48 hours.
“From the onset of Doug’s illness right up through today, there has been no obstacle Doug’s Army family hasn’t been able to overcome, no service they wouldn’t render, no support they haven’t provided,” said his brother, Air Force Col. Jeffrey Yocum, vice commander, 501st Combat Support Wing, Royal Air Force, Alconbury, England. “No matter the request, the only answer we’ve ever received is ‘Yes’, and then some team of professionals has gone about the business of getting it done as quickly as possible.”
This is what our motto of “Army Strong” is all about, Wells said.
“… so we dedicate ‘Yocum Way’ not in sadness that such a man died – but rather, to celebrate that such a man lived.”
Yocum is survived by his wife, Yumiko; a daughter, Naomi; a son, Tyler, his mother, Phyllis; a sister, Jocelyn DiChiara; and two brothers, Jeffrey and Steven Yocum.

Civil rights attorney Tracy Emblem and other volunteers listen to instructions before the service event.