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Amid the hoopla a Hero passed this way!

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by gafinfan, Jul 14, 2009.

  1. gafinfan

    gafinfan gunner Club Member

    With all of the hoopla of TV, Movie, and Pop stars passing away we missed the passing of a TRUE hero. Please take a moment to remember this great man. May you rest in God's loving grace "Shifty".

    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1090976/bio

    He was a rifleman with Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and his fellow paratroopers recalled him as the best shot in the company. It was common to hear among Easy men, "it just didn't pay to shoot at Shifty".

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    And this; from my hunting buddy Don (Ex Army) the email:

    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.
    >
    >
    >
     
  2. Zach13

    Zach13 Season Ticket Holder

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    They don't make em like that anymore.
     
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  3. like2god

    like2god Typical white person Luxury Box

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    RIP

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    Thank you for posting this story gafinfan! I have to admit, I welled up a bit just reading it. I have the utmost respect for "The Greatest Generation." I think Shifty typified what they all were...selfless. We all owe them a debt we can never repay.

    RIP Shifty.
     
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  5. Big E

    Big E Plus sized porn star

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    R.i.p.
     
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  6. Nappy Roots

    Nappy Roots Well-Known Member

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    crazy how twisted the world is sometimes, someone like this dies and goes unnoticed for almost an entire month.

    RIP Shifty
     
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  7. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    I remember him from Band Of Brothers. In it, they rig the point system to allow him to go home because they all liked him so much. He's in the Bonus Features quite a bit. I recommend everyone rent the complete Band of Brothers DVD set if you haven't seen it. Amazing stuff.
     
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  8. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    rip shifty.
     
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  9. cnc66

    cnc66 wiley veteran, bad spelur Luxury Box

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    Peace my hero, rest in peace.
     
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  10. calphin

    calphin deadly at 250 yards!!

    A great soldier and even better man.

    Gods speed.
     
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  11. opfinistic

    opfinistic Braaaaains!

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    Peeking in Nabo's Basement
    Great thread. It's a shame that the media would rather give us 24/7 coverage of the passing of a person like MJ and it takes a thread like this for me to learn about the death of a real hero.

    RIP Shifty. :salute:
     
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  12. calphin

    calphin deadly at 250 yards!!


    AMEN! I agree 110%.
     
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  13. TJamesW_Phinfan

    TJamesW_Phinfan New Member

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    Rip
     
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  14. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    I couldn't agree more. Sad, really.
     
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  15. Ultra

    Ultra Lazy

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    RIP Shifty :(
     
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