I got this email from my dad, whose brother Frank (my uncle) was in the 506th PIR, aka "Band of Brothers." I asked my dad exactly who is the author of the email. My brother (we chain-email) wrote back that the email wound up in my aunt's (my uncle's wife) Inbox after circulating around the web for God only knows how long. My aunt says Uncle Frank was Shifty's first scout and Shifty told her what a great soldier Frank was. He said that all he had to do was point and nod his head and Frank was on the job scouting out the area. He said Frank hated to stay in a foxhole so he made a great scout. Also his Minnesota hunting background made him a great patrol man. Clues indicate that the following email was written around the time of a recent D-Day remembrance...


Michael Jackson pales in Shifty's shadow. Our cultural value systems are headed for the gravely injured list. 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.



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 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.



"A nation without heroes is nothing."
Roberto Clemente

Shifty.

Shifty was a Real Hero.

America has a lot of Real Heroes, sadly they do not get the accolades they are due.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Shifty was a Real Hero.

America has a lot of Real Heroes, sadly they do not get the accolades they are due.

You can thank the American left for that. They never seem to truly appreciate the sacrifices that have ben made for our nation.

May Shifty Rest In Peace knowing he did his duty well. May we remember Shifty and the countless others like him, both now and then, with the reverence they deserve!

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Shifty was a Real Hero.

America has a lot of Real Heroes, sadly they do not get the accolades they are due.

You can thank the American left for that. They never seem to truly appreciate the sacrifices that have been made for our nation.

And that is because far too many, both left and right, never sacrifice anything for anyone. Having nev er made any sacrifices they wouldn't recognize one if it bit them on the ass.

They just sit back and harass the government to throw other peoples' money at anything they perceive to be a problem.

Another one of the "Greatest Generation".

A heartfelt "Thanks!" to those who served and to those who still serve!



Here's more on Darrell "Shifty" Powers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Powers

http://www.truthorfiction.com/...s/s/shiftypowers.htm

Godspeed.