Darrell "Shifty" Powers

So long, Shifty...we hardly knew ye.
Veteran a part of 'Band of Brothers' - Roanoke.com

 

Rest in Peace.

 

Thanks for your service Shifty! You will be missed!

 

Damn...very sad to hear this - and I just watched Band of Brothers this past weekend on The History Channel too. I always liked hearing Powers' testimony about how he and the german soldier could have been friends in a different situation.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Powers.

 

Rest in Peace Mr. Powers.

 

RIP

 

Sad to hear, but he is with his mates now.

RIP

 

Am I the only one who finds it sadder that only 6 (now 7) replies to this have been made?

 

I've only joined this forum a couple of days ago, but yes indeed, it's pretty sad. You'd think more people would've responded to this message.

I just re-watched episode 10 of BoB yesterday, in which he said goodbye to Maj. Winters before leaving for the US again. It was really moving.

RIP Shifty Powers, you will never be forgotten.

 

Regarding Shifty Powers, I received the following in an email this morning, and thought I would share it:

==================================


One of the "Band of Brothers" soldiers died on June 17, 2009.

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 hat 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

=============================
Band of Brothers Darrel 'Shifty' Powers’ Death Memorialized



Godspeed, Shifty....what you guys did mattered.


-Lou (the other Lou)

 

That email was really touching that you received, thanks for sharing it. It is sad to see all the heros go to their final resting peace, sad to hear also his final years were tough with cancer

 

"He was a great brother. I know he was great at a lot of other things, too -- great father, great son, great husband." My favorite line in the whole article!

ref: 101st Airborne Division Clan® | Battlefield 2 Authentic Military Tactics Realism Clan |

Much thanks and appreciation, I have posted the 101st website....it's not the offical one, but worth checking out for the wimpy player on the bottom of the screen. Scroll to the V-Day Stomp at the bottom of the playlist and play! Rest in Peace Shifty


Mark

 

scarface!! Thank you so much for sharing... I keep reading your post over and over... what an amazing story and moment with shifty. Cherish that moment and experience! Your post and words honor him in a way that he is deserving.

Mark

 

As a clarification, that was an email that I received.

I never personally met him.... I was just sharing the email.

But it does tell a heartwarming story of one hero (among many).

-Lou

 

Lou, my apologies... I misunderstood you. I guess I was just too excited that I overlooked some verbage But none the less, amazing story and e-mail.

take care,

Mark

 

Heres the link to his obituary guest book, if anyone would like to pay their respects. I dont think they'd mind, there are already 83 pages of farewells.

 

shifty you will be sorely missed

 

Regarding the email that went around, you should read this:

snopes.com: Shifty Powers

The email is a mixture of truth and falsehoods.

 

I'm sadden to hear this news as for the last three days I dug out and dusted of my VHS tapes of Band of Brothers which I have been watching.

R.I.P

 

The book "Shifty's War" by Marcus Brotherton is being released on May 3.

My copy is supposed to be delivered next week, I'm looking very much forward to it.

I've attached a link to Marcus talking about Band of Brothers and Shifty Powers. I only wish Mr. Powers was here to share the release of this book, his story. God Bless you, Mr. Powers. God certainly blessed us with you.

[video]http://youtu.be/ge4RhDb32Bk[/video]