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Memorial Service For Darrell “Shifty” Powers



Jul 15, 2009 15 Comments ›› Erik Wong

shifty2

CFP:

We’re hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.

I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell “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.

imageShifty 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, on-line, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

“A nation without heroes is nothing.”
(Roberto Clemente)

More HERE:


  • AMartinez

    The heros of yesteryear we are loseing at an even greater pace, God bless these men and women.

  • http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof

    Yeah. You’d think that if pop stars got a big send off, real American heroes would get a bigger one!

  • http://www.myspace.com/ssgduke ssgduke53

    It is very sad that my one party Socialist State decide to use my taxpaying dollars to give a memorial service to an allege pedophile/Pain Killer drug taker while this great Soldier/Citizen is barely mention on the corrupt multimedia News!! I would have gladly let my taxpaying dollars go to this true Citizen Soldier memorial for he has proven time after time his loyalty to his friends and to this great Nation. How sad we give honor a corrupt sole M. Jackson while this Citizen Soldier should be the one Honor the most in memory! How Sad…how very, very sad…..

    From SSG Tom Duke who once serve in the 101st ABN, B co, 3/197th Bn RAKASSANS 1982 to 1984 and Aco 5/187th RAKASSANS 1985 to 1986. I salute this honorable Citizen Soldier for his service to this great Nation. May God take him to his final resting place in the Mansion of the Lord house….

  • ALPHA

    These “Band of Brothers” are and have been the backbone of what has made this country special. Men that served their nation as it trumpeted the cause of freedom for those who had none. Gone but never ever forgotten..their legacy lives on. Thank you to you and those like you sir and May God Bless you all. Currahee!

  • Vehement

    God Bless you, Mr. Powers. Thank you for everything you’ve done.

  • IRONMIKE

    As always, UPSIDE DOWN AND BACKWARDS. We are loosing heroes faster than thay can be replaced and the country is burning down around us. Michael Jackson couldn’t have made it through a regular army bootcamp, much less have dealt with anything close to what those brave men had to deal with. I makes me sick that our nation mourns the passing of a mere entertainer who was weird and probably engaged in criminal activity while true heroes are relagated to whispering afterthoughts if that.

  • IRONMIKE

    By the way, Cheers to you Shifty, rest in peace. Currahee!

  • David

    This is a very moving story about a REAL AMERICAN HERO and a HUMBLE MAN. He was and will remain a part of the grteatest generation who saved the world. There is a special place in heaven for him and his comrades in arms.

  • Jeanet

    Message for Shifty:

    Sir,

    I never had the chance to tell you in person, nor write it in a letter. ‘Cause I never met you and didn’t have your adress.

    Parachuting near Arnhem back then in 1944 together with your comrades, saved the life of my grandparents and parents.

    ‘Till this very day I’ve commemorated this every year at may 5th. And I’ll continue doing this untill my dying day.

    Thank you.

  • Tom Wales, WI

    RIP, We here will never forget your service.

  • CCB

    Rest in Peace Shifty.

  • AFITgrad86

    Ten hut! … Present Arms ….. Bugler sound Taps …. Order Arms…. Rest well warrior brother :beer: :beer:

  • http://SteveR Paul Phillips

    God Bless Shifty and God Bless our remaining vets and
    our troops in peril. God Bless America, to one vet to
    another. Paul

  • http://alcove-one.blogspot.com/ Rob

    Great story.

  • Ty

    I thanked and asked to shake the hand of a veteran of WWII last week. A co-worker said she was going to puke. I asked her why. She said that the Armed Forces are just trained baby killers. Wish she was a dude then I could have beat his ass. I hadn’t been that mad in awhile.
    By the way, she did confess that she’d only get excited enough to shake a stranger’s hand if it was someone like Damion Marley. :twisted: