THIS IS NOT ME TALKING TO SHIFTY BUT A GOOD FRIEND OF OUR FAMILY I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO START A MEMORIAL FOR HIM I HOPE I DID NOT OFFEND ANYONE.

GROUNDZERO


We're hearing a lot recently about big splashy memorial services. One of the "Band of Brothers" soldiers died on June 17, 2009 ? just 8 days before Michael Jackson ? and yet, no media coverage. 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 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.

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RIP Shifty. Another of the "Greatest Generation" bites the dust and America is is a little lessor.

My second cousin Dave, my fathers cousin, served with the 101st from the D-Day jump till the end of the war. He didn't talk much about the war, but what little he did, I'll never forget. He was a combat Medic. Most of his company was killed during the Battle of the Bulge outside Bastonge.

God Bless the Screaming Eagles.



Tj

RIP Shifty.....

"Currahee"

May the men who fought the good fight, be remembered always for what they gave and sacrificed in a time of
need for not only their country, but for a world in need of them. May they always be remembered and kept
alive with the stories and thoughts of those who know what their generation did to keep a world free.

May God Bless them and watch over them eternally.

R.I.P. "Shifty." You are a true hero. I had the pleasure of meeting Sgt. Don Malarkey, several days ago, who also served with "Shifty." What a great experience that was.