Trajectory

The trajectory of an object in motion, such as a bullet, is slightly curved. The Vietnamese sniper that took aim at Jim Street in 1969 must have known this fact. His first round, aimed a few degrees higher than sightline, was pulled down by gravity as it travelled forward until its curved path found its mark downrange — Lieutenant Commander Smith, the beloved company commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. Suicide Charley.

Jim Street, an eighteen year old grunt who dropped out of high school to join the Marine Corps, zeroed in on the deep black hole of his commanding officer’s neck as it began gushing blood like a geyser.

“Smith’s hit!”

As if in unison with LCDR Smith’s lanky body, Jim’s cloak of invincibility fell to the ground, despite being flanked by the steel armor of four tanks and six amtracs. Now in the sniper’s sight, Jim has just formed the words that echoed along the tree line.

“Save the f’ing ammunition, we’re gonna get that sonuvabitch!”

Then the second shot rang out.

This is a story about how the trajectory of a bullet changed the path of a man’s life.

#GivingTuesday

Last year, Power of One launched our first fundraising campaign. And with it, came our first gift of $10.00. It may not seem like much, but it meant the world to us because it was given with love. You see, our first donor has many mouths to feed, yet she wanted to kickstart the spirit of giving because she knew that all contributions — large and small — help us tell stories that help others.

To that first donor who gave — THANK YOU! To all of YOU who gave this past year — THANK YOU!

Thanks to you, Power of One was able to capture amazing stories, publish essays and op-eds, host preview and discussion programs, and connect with thousands of people, many of whom were buoyed by the stories of hope and healing.

Contribute a little. Share a lot.

This weekend, our first IndieGoGo campaign came to a close. What an amazing experience to share and receive the gift of story and community from you all. We learned a lot about fundraising in the age of social media, but most of all, we learned how much Power of One: Preventing Suicide in America means […]

Power of One Intro Video

Power of One: Preventing Suicide in America is a feature documentary and outreach effort that shares the stories of people at the forefront of preventing suicide — advocates, surviving friends and family, and those who pivoted from the brink, woven with insights by doctors, experts and public officials — to show how we are all connected, not […]

Why Are We Whispering?

When I tell people about Power of One, many lean in and whisper, “I know someone who died by suicide.” Or, “I don’t tell many people this, but I have (or have experienced) depression too.” And I wonder: Why are we whispering? I believe we must talk about suicide aloud because America is on a precipice. Nearly […]

Power of One

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