Shifty Powers
Moderator: Jaws
- Sturmschar
- Posts: 363
- Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:18 am
- Location: Reigate Mozambique
Shifty Powers
Think of the media circus, flags at half staff, and all the things that were said of Whitney Houston when she died and Michael Jackson when he died.
This hero died with barely anyone's notice.
Staff Sergeant Darrell C. "Shifty" Powers, Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division.
"Shifty" By Chuck Yeager
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat. Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made. Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 ..." at which point my heart skipped. At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy. . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped. I told him "yes, I know exactly where Normandy is, and I know what D-Day was." At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero ... and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day. I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes... And it 's real sad because, these days, so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say. I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in coach while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach. He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and who still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this. Shifty died on Jan. l7 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade. No big event in Staples Center. No wall-to-wall, back-to-back 24x7 news coverage. No weeping fans on television.
And that's not right! Let's give Shifty his own memorial service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
Chuck Yeager, Maj. General [ret.]
Shame on all who fail to remember!
Andy Scorgie.
Always keep the boot of destiny aimed at the arse of anticipation!
- johankreig
- Posts: 557
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Re: Shifty Powers
if no one else can be bothered, we can atleast try, a nice forum send off is better than no send off.
Name: Jonathan
Rank: Unteroffizier
Johan Paul Kreig
Feldgendarmerie
Himmel Soldaten
Location: Sending Deserters back to the front
Rank: Unteroffizier
Johan Paul Kreig
Feldgendarmerie
Himmel Soldaten
Location: Sending Deserters back to the front
- Crazy Feldgendarme
- Posts: 2256
- Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:46 pm
- Location: Telford
Re: Shifty Powers
RIP Shifty, more deserving of a media send off than so called pop stars etc.
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of the person who screws up your day and may their arms be too short to scratch.
GeFoPo
GeFoPo
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- Posts: 846
- Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:23 pm
Re: Shifty Powers
RIP Brother
See you on the DZ
AIRBORNE!
See you on the DZ
AIRBORNE!
- littletankman
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:24 pm
- Location: UK
Re: Shifty Powers
RIP Shifty deserves more reconition at least he gets it on here.
Re: Shifty Powers
Rest in peace a true hero.
Ironically i'm right in the middle of band of brothers series.
Ironically i'm right in the middle of band of brothers series.
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- Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:30 am
- Location: Staffordshire, UK.
- Contact:
Re: Shifty Powers
Such a shame to hear he's gone.
Das beste oder nicht...
9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
- Chris Pittman
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:22 pm
- Location: New England, USA
Re: Shifty Powers
He actually died on June 17, 2009. Three and a half years ago.
Re: Shifty Powers
rest in peace shifty .....and thanks
95th nacht..attached 85th gebirgsjeager
have enigma ,will travel.
have enigma ,will travel.