TO THE CALM MOTHER EARTHS WAITING BREST
DUTY DONE LIKE THE SUN GOING WEST
Posted on 07/23/2009 12:18:46 PM PDT by trooprally
If you live in northern VA and want a short cut to Olney See Post 39 Here. It's an easy 20 minute drive from the American Legion Bridge.
A special Thanks to a FReeper FRiend for enhancing the original plain type directions.
The Archive of Olney FReeps is here or in the LINKS section of Trooprally's ABOUT Page.
WEATHER UPDATES HERE.
DC Chapter Master ping List
Please remember Frank and his family in your prayers.
RIP Brother
A greatful salute to Frank, serving his country until the very end. God bless our “greatest generation”.
You could not have said anything better about Frank, that says it all. Except that he was post commander 2 to 3 times.
[Mrs]T
received in email
From: Chuck Yeager
Sent: Fri, Jul 10, 2009 1:02 pm
Subject: Memorial Service:
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, 2009, 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.
Chuck Yeager, MajGen. (Retired)
God bless and keep Frank. I’m sure He’ll find something good for him to do.
Thank You from all of the Olney Patriots. Frank will be missed.
[Mr] T
Prayers for all our Vets as they pass on, known or unknown to us.
[Mr] T
Your letter has tears streaming down my face, dang it. I’m at work, but luckily my door is shut! Both of these men are heros extroidinaire! R.I.P., Shifty.
From the interviews I’ve seen of him in the series, he struck me as the kind of guy I would have liked to known.
Glad I got a chance to meet him a few times.
RIP
I wish all the well wishers on this thread got to met him. Great guy. Thank you all. I'm going to link this thread in an email to Frank's family so they can also read your well wishes. Just got back from Frank's viewing. His Legion Post did a real nice ceremony to Frank. Funeral is Friday AM.
[Mr] T
May God bless and comfort his family.
Sweet post. Thanks for sharing.
Although our meeting was once, it was an honor and pleasure to meet Frank. May he rest in peace. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and the Olney patriots, who knew him well.
Frank would be proud of your report, [Mr] T. Thanks for sharing.
He will be sorely missed on FR.
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