A real superstar

I know the USA is honoring a respectable man who reported on historical world events. And just finishing memorials for a world renown musician. Let’s take a moment and honor one who is less known but did some historical world events. Let me share a mailing from another historical figure about Darrell Powers.

From: Chuck Yeager <chucky9>

Sent: Fri, Jul 10, 2009 1:02 pm

Subject: Memorial Service: you're invited.

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 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.

No tributes.

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.]