![]() His son (my father in law) never knew the story until that day. He dug through all his father's belongings (by this time it all fit in a shoebox - he had given away all his medals years before) and one of the few things left was his Ace card. When this man told my father-in-law about it he started to dig into his father's service. They each took an Ace from the deck and swore a lifetime friendship. There were four of them and the played cards the night before he invasion. He died about 2 years ago and a strange man came to his funeral. My grandfather-in-law was a Ranger during D Day and never spoke about his experiences in his lifetime. Next time you're in San Francisco, drinks and dinner are on me.Īdding more to this thread. Thank you again for your story and the respect you displayed. It's on me to thank them for their service. I always settle that with the waiter or waitress. When I am in an airport, no soldier, airman, navel person or marine pays for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I haven't had an opportunity to give up my first class seat, but if I did, I would do it in a heart beat. When I was in the Army I was required to travel in my uniform and I remember some airlines like Delta would always upgrade me to first class. It touched me that your offered Shifty your first class seat. in honor of our brothers from World War II. I remember our fire bases out in the A Shau Valley were named "Eagle's Nest", "Burgesonegarden", "Bastogne", etc. Actually, I was with the 2nd of the 506th, the unit of the 101st Airborne that was depicted in Band of Brothers. When I was in Vietnam, I was an Infantry Officer with the 101st Airborne. Thank you for sharing, and thanks Shifty for your service. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage. ![]() Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer. Make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it.Īnd mine are brimming up now as I write this. Still some who remember what we did and who still care is enough to When Shifty cameįorward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have Get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back inĬoach while I was in First Class. Was in my throat and I didn't know what to say. Left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart And it's real sad because, these days, so few of the guys are I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said Īnd then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of " I was standing with a genuine war hero. ![]() I told him "yes, I know exactly where Normandy is, and I know whatĭ-Day was." At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped. Jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy. " at which point my heartĪt that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so,Īnd was in until sometime in 1945. ![]() I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, He said quietly that he had been in theġ01st. Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne I offered to help, assured him that he wasĪt the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of ![]() I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. His character appears in all 10Įpisodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with EasyĬompany of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101stĪirborne Infantry. I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers. We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services. Subject: Memorial Service: you're invited. ![]()
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