(submitted by kent kingsley and several others)
We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.
I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.
Shifty Powers
shifty powers
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 was, 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 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 June 17 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center .
No wall-to-wall, back-to-back, 24/7 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.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
"A nation without heroes is nothing." Roberto Clemente
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 was, 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 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 June 17 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center .
No wall-to-wall, back-to-back, 24/7 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.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
"A nation without heroes is nothing." Roberto Clemente
Defined tags for this entry: Geiger's Counter, shifty powers
By the time I had finished those DVDs I felt so connected to the men of Easy Company that it strike a bit of a chord to know that Shifty passed away just a little over a month ago. What a great character and obviously a great man.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I do more than just write about Memorial Day or heroes gone by or community characters. I invest a little of myself into them and try to take away from them something as well. Thank you for this reminder of the humanity that is involved in each and every war, conflict, crisis, and cause.
I have had the privileged to have met several of these unassuming heroes, those men who felt it was there responsibility to keep their nation and the world free from tyranny and oppression. We still have them serving in foreign battlefields, and then we have our own homefront under fire from the crazed, idiotic, self-ordained individuals preaching (change, hope, and reliance on a socialistic government controlled existence in our nation.); this is what these men fought against. Why are we bowing to this type of communistic socialism fascism here?
we need to remember the sacrifices made by such men as these, cherish the freedom we have, and Fight the aggressor that challenges it both overseas and here at home in all branches of our own government.
I've been voting since I turned 18 and have never missed an election since. I tell everyone that I would never disrespect my Father and Grandfather and their service to our country by missing an election.
They fought in order to afford me the right to go to the polls and make my voice heard.
The men and women serving in all branches of our military are our heroes, folks, and let's never ever forget that.
Thank you for the great story about Shifty. It was a nice reminder that no worries in my day to day life compare to their sacrifice. We owe all who serve a debt we can never pay.
God bless our service men and women serving bravely with little recognition.
Rest in peace Shifty.
Thanks to my grandfathers. May you rest in peace.
George C. Martin, US Navy Pacific Theater, WWII
Earnest Easom, US Army European Theater, WWII
Our deepest gratitude and sympathy go out to Shifty's family, a true American hero. We thank you for his service to our country. May he rest in peace.
Thank you "Shifty" and thank you DAD!!!
Semper Fi
It is because of their sacrifice and that of their loved ones that we have our freedom. That we can vote, that we can live whereever we want,that we have all the opportunities we need to succeed, that anybody can run for office without fear of persecution. Those people are the real heroes. Not those people who take advantage of the privilege to run for office and then think that they know everything better than the rest of the population and run this country and its expensive freedom in the ground.
They(Vets) were and are proud of their country and that's why they sacrificed everything, so that anybody has the freedom to say and preach whatever they want. Unlike some who first take advantage of this hard fought freedom to reach their goals, and then turn their backs on it.
I appreciate you sharing this, so that regular folks like us can pay our respects to those heroes. They are the ones who brought honor to this country.
I do pray for the veterans and all the ones who are still serving and their loved ones and am so grateful for their service and sacrifice.
God bless them all.
I am incensed by the fact that everyone, everywhere, knows what color Brittany Spears' panties are; when Dizzy Lohan goes into rehab with Amy Winehouse; that Jessica Simpson was made-fun-of for her "fat jeans"; that "Dancing With the Stars" & "American Idol" are household institutions . . . When I've just now, by accident, learned of the passing of a "TRUE" hero; someone worthy of "REAL" admiration!
I am as disgusted by the misfocus of the media as I am heart-broken by the loss of Shifty Powers.
My deepest respect and reverent condolences go out to Mr. Powers' family and friends. As tremendous a loss as it is to them, equally immeasurable is the loss to our country, of Darrell and men like him.
God bless you Shifty and family.