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, 24/7
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.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
"A nation without heroes is nothing."
Roberto Clemente
Obit:
Darrell "Shifty" Powers, 86, of Shifty
Lane, Clinchco, Va., passed away Wednesday June 17, 2009 at Wellmont
Regional Hospital, Bristol, Tenn., after a courageous battle with
cancer.
He was a charter member of Clinchco Missionary Baptist Church. Shifty
was a veteran of World War II, having served in the 101st Airborne, 506
Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was a member of the famed Easy Company
whose exploits received worldwide recognition in "Band of Brothers," a
book by historian Stephen Ambrose, and miniseries produced by Tom Hanks
and Stephen Spielberg. Shifty dropped behind enemy lines in Normanday on
D-Day. He also participated in all of Easy Company's battles including
Operation Market Garden, Battle of the Bulge, and the capture of
Hitler's Eagles Nest.
Darrell was preceded in death by his parents Barnum and Audrey Colley
Powers; brothers, James, Barnum and Frank Powers; and a great-grandson
Gavin Johnson.
Survivors include his loving wife of sixty years, Dorothy; son, Wayne
(Sandy) Powers of Clinchco, Va., daughter, Margo (Seldon) Johnson of
Bristol, Va., sister, Gaynell (Clair) Sykes of Roanoke,Va.;
sisters-in-law, Ann Powers of Clintwood Va., Betty Powers of Greenville,
Tenn.; four grandchildren, Clay (Kayla) Powers, Dove Powers, Jake (Dawnyale)
Johnson and Luke (Amanda) Johnson; two great-grandchildren, Caden Powers
and Cooper Powers; several nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and
nephews; and special family friends the Robinettes, Carol, David and
Tammy and Suzanne Axtell.
Pallbearers will be Jake Johnson, Luke Johnson, Clay Powers, David
Robinette, Johnny Sykes, Mike Strouth and John Wesley Hawkins. Honorary
pallbearers will be Ben Sutherland, Claire Sykes, Tim Thomas, Wayne
"Pappy" McCowan, Shang-Hi Nichols and Mickey Taylor.
The family will receive friends on Friday June 19, 2009, from 5:00 to
7:30 p.m., followed with a song service at 7:30 in the Mullins Funeral
Home Chapel, Clintwood Va. Funeral services will be conducted on
Saturday June 20, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., with Pastor Randy Moore
officiating. Graveside services with Military Honors will be conducted
by Francis Marion VFW post 4667 at Temple Hill Cemetery.
Online email condolences may be made at
mullinsfuneralhome1@verizon.net.
Mullins Funeral Home and staff are serving the Powers Family.
I am blessed to have met this man.
Shaking his hand and sharing some time is something I will never forget.
The Band of Brothers grows smaller. Honor them.
