Another email

[Trained2Survive]

I'm only posting this emails, because the subject is mostly about us, as Veterans and still serving so here goes.....

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 is, 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 who 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, 2009 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.

Chuck Yeager, MajGen. [ret.]

overall thoughts about this one....

[squidfamily1]

My thoughts are.....you've been getting a ton of points the last two days on these emails

[Trained2Survive]

My thoughts are.....you've been getting a ton of points the last two days on these emails

thats not the point of posting these emails at all, i am genuinly interested in seeing what others think about these emails i have gotten from my dad, seeing as most of the emails deal with veterans or various politics. and on the whole points thing, every message board I have ever been on, I've always posted like this.

[XxSilentxFartxX]

Shifty was one hell of a man and personally one of my heros. There is more to his story than what the Band of Brothers told. If you ever get bored look him up..Most of these guys are featured in these stroies like The pacific and Band of Brothers, there is more to them. Look em up and i gurantee your heart will burst with pride after doing so

[Trained2Survive]

Shifty was one hell of a man and personally one of my heros. There is more to his story than what the Band of Brothers told. If you ever get bored look him up..Most of these guys are featured in these stroies like The pacific and Band of Brothers, there is more to them. Look em up and i gurantee your heart will burst with pride after doing so

How is the Pacific version of BoB?

[squidfamily1]

I missed them coming out so didn't want to start in the middle. probably get the box set. It's HBO so they're probably great
Which one was Shifty in the BOB series?

[airborne509]

I missed them coming out so didn't want to start in the middle. probably get the box set. It's HBO so they're probably great
Which one was Shifty in the BOB series?

is this like the game battleship? where two naval dudes go head to head over usmg points?

Cool..............

[squidfamily1]

I missed them coming out so didn't want to start in the middle. probably get the box set. It's HBO so they're probably great
Which one was Shifty in the BOB series?

is this like the game battleship? where two naval dudes go head to head over usmg points?

Cool..............

just because it takes an army guy an hour to type a complete sentence doesn't mean you have to bust on the navy

[airborne509]

I missed them coming out so didn't want to start in the middle. probably get the box set. It's HBO so they're probably great
Which one was Shifty in the BOB series?

is this like the game battleship? where two naval dudes go head to head over usmg points?

Cool..............

just because it takes an army guy an hour to type a complete sentence doesn't mean you have to bust on the navy

you miss me dont you. i can see it on your text.

[Guest]

You 2 play nice now.....

[jack]

now, now.... If anyone is going to get freaky,(aka oily sexytime) up in this thread it's gonna be me .

[David_3033]

I saw pacific and didn't get a chance to see all the band of brothers. I really have been wanting to go and get the box set of BOB. And when pacific comes out I will get that too.

I loved generation kill too. The book was great and the mini series was awesome too. I made sure I had that box set!!

[jack]

I saw pacific and didn't get a chance to see all the band of brothers. I really have been wanting to go and get the box set of BOB. And when pacific comes out I will get that too.

I loved generation kill too. The book was great and the mini series was awesome too. I made sure I had that box set!!

BOB is not to be missed, you'll love it. :mrgreen: