The Right Stuff
- Thread starter OCPETE
- Start date
Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
Kingman
GT Owner
GTJack
GT Owner
Absolutely incredible. All heroes. All volunteers. All striving for freedom for others that we enjoy and too many take for granted.
H
HHGT
Guest
Waldo
GT Owner
TO AWSUM
Ford GT Owner
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
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Powers
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
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Powers
Kirby Vieira
GT Owner/B.o.D
AlohaGT
GT Owner
Awesum GT: Fortunately there are still some of us that recognize who the real heros of this country are and who deserve to be honored as such.
Unfortunately, there are too many with their head on backwards or not enough between their ears to understand that many of those revered overpaid sports figures and entertainers they think are "heros" aren't fit to shine the shoes of guys like Shifty Powers and all the others who gave much, some giving all so we can live in a country with the freedoms and liberty guaranteed by our Constitutiont and which many take for granted.
I had a similar inident. I saw an older man obviously diabled. He had a Marine tattoo. After some conversation I came to learn he saw combat in the pacific and was injured leaving him with his disability grown worse with age. I told him of my dads service in Europe during the war.
I thanked him for his for his service and he seemed geuinely grateful that some still cared enough and remembered to say thank you.
There is a reason they are the greatest generation.
Unfortunately, there are too many with their head on backwards or not enough between their ears to understand that many of those revered overpaid sports figures and entertainers they think are "heros" aren't fit to shine the shoes of guys like Shifty Powers and all the others who gave much, some giving all so we can live in a country with the freedoms and liberty guaranteed by our Constitutiont and which many take for granted.
I had a similar inident. I saw an older man obviously diabled. He had a Marine tattoo. After some conversation I came to learn he saw combat in the pacific and was injured leaving him with his disability grown worse with age. I told him of my dads service in Europe during the war.
I thanked him for his for his service and he seemed geuinely grateful that some still cared enough and remembered to say thank you.
There is a reason they are the greatest generation.
Last edited:
S592R
GT Owner
- Dec 3, 2006
- 2,800
I was deeply saddened to hear that Sgt. Powers recently passed. Although I never met him, I felt as many of us did that I at least knew him through the "Band of Brothers" book and series.
It is unfortunate that many of these gentlemen heroes pass everyday having never told their story or have any recognition for the service performed. Many men such as my grandfather, simply did the job that was asked of them often without thought and then just came home and started a life and a family after the experiences and horrors of war.
What is most unfortunate is that many Americans never blink an eye or lift a finger even when accomplishments are revealed or days of recognition come around. I am ashamed that I have done so also, until one day a few years ago after picking up my son, we where driving down the highway and as always we where playing the I spy license plate game. After many common ones my son saw one and asked what it was. I only caught a brief look at it while sailing past at a much higher rate of speed. It was a POW License plate. After trying very hard to simplify a difficult subject I explained it in simple terms to him only to feel a huge pit in my stomach develop. We pulled over to the side of the road and watched as car after car passed us by. All the while my son sat quiet wondering what his father was doing.
A few minutes later the Minivan on which the POW plate passed and we accelerated to get back into traffic. After a few moments we managed to get along side of the van and seated in the drivers seat slightly slumped over from age was an elderly gentlemen who appeared to be in his upper 70's. I lowered my passenger window as it was tinted and waited, a few seconds later the gentlemen looked over with a puzzled look on his face. Quickly I issued a proper eyes right Marine hand salute and held. Immediately, the driver sat at attention and returned my salute a broad smile appearing across his face.
My son and I drove on. Still sitting in the car my son now incredibly confused asked me.. "why?". To which I answered "One day, probably long ago that man went off to war, was captured by the enemy and suffered to defend his country and so that I could have the life that I have had ..... and that so I could have you. That was the only way that I could think of that I could truly tell him thank you without talking to him."
A moment in time made an elderly man's day and my son wiser. For me, it removed that lump in my stomach as I knew what the right thing to do was ... I just had to gain the courage to do it. I have since done the same to two other gentlemen and received that same brief moment, that bond, that opportunity to say "I am sorry that I have ignored you and your sacrifice... you will never be forgotten as I promise you to never forget."
God bless all those who served humbly and have yet to receive their salute. :usa