A source died last week. Not just any source, and not just any way — He was a unique man, and one that I never thought would take his own life.
I met Damon John Percival and his beautiful girlfriend, Amy Mansell, on one of the coldest days in 2008. It was Dec. 22, to be exact, and the temperature was drifting down in the lower 20s. D.J. had called my city editor on the spur of the moment about a blanket and socks drive he had organized a few days before, and he was on his way to the homeless camps beneath Interstate 565 and at the end of Derrick Street to distribute those necessities to the homeless.
My boss asked me to go. I remember thinking, “It’s way too cold today for me to stand outside and interview college students and the homeless.” But I bucked up and went, and now I’m grateful I did.
What could have been a routine story turned into something else entirely when I asked one simple question: Why? What prompted you to do this; to gather donations for homeless? After all, it was three days before Christmas. I was curious.
That’s when D.J. openly started talking about his past. He ended up without a roof over his head for quite a while after getting out of the Army. He paced up and down University Drive every day, putting in job applications and hoping he would find something. He had a daughter he needed to provide for.
The story touched me. I know; as a journalist, I should turn off my emotions. But anyone standing in that frigid homeless camp, watching men and women hesitantly accept the kind donations and listening to D.J.’s story, couldn’t help but feel something.
I ran into D.J. and Amy weeks later in Wal-Mart. I almost accidentally walked right past them, but D.J. made a point to stop me and tell me how much the story meant to him. He gushed about how wonderful it was, and Amy beamed the entire time. They seemed happy and together; life was good.
D.J. had also sent an e-mail after the story. It stung a little today to see that our e-mail system at The Times has since deleted it. But I remember the kind words, and how much it meant to me that someone appreciated my work. It’s a strange feeling when you find out someone young and full of life has died. A friend of his e-mailed me about his death a few days ago — noting that it was intentional — and I was shocked and unsettled. I can’t find my story online anymore, but here’s a little excerpt below.
‘Santa’s’ memories of want spur drive to help homeless
The Huntsville Times
Dec. 23, 2008
In the span of six years, Damon John Percival went from being a former soldier roaming the streets of Huntsville looking for a job and shelter to being a sort of Santa Claus for the homeless.Percival and his girlfriend, Amy Mansell, managed to put together an impromptu blankets and socks drive last week that turned out to be more successful than he had hoped. The drive generated four to five carloads of clothes, blankets, toiletries and other essentials, which Percival and his friends hand-delivered Monday afternoon.
At 31, Percival said he’s achieved his American dream – he has a beautiful girlfriend, two cars, an apartment and a 3.5 GPA at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Six years ago, he left the Army to take care of his daughter after a divorce.
He had nothing.
“I remember how it felt,” he said after leaving the homeless camp on Derrick Street, where several men and women huddled around a barrel fire. “I’m totally thankful. It’s the American dream, and I think everyone should have access to it.”
Tags: Damon John Percival, death, homeless, source
