RIP Darrell "Shifty" Powers

[Lincsong]

One of the men whom Band of Brothers is based. A true American hero.

http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/l...others_hero_darrell_swifty_powers_dies/25556/

 

[Davep]

Several of our unit members are also members of the 101st Airborne unit.

Recently through the hard work of Terry Poysner, he was able to reunite Don Malarkey and his old war buddy Robert Noody. They had worked together during the occupation, and had been trying to relocate him for over 60 years. He even missed him by a few weeks once visiting Normandy.

At a recent reenactment Terry brought together FIVE 506th veterans

1Sgt Donald Malarkey - Company E
Sgt Robert "Smokey" Noody - Company F
Sgt Willam True - Company F
SSGt Robert Janes - Company F
PFC Edward Pepping Medic - Company E

We spent the weekend with these vets, talking with them, having them sign our books. There was a panel where they shared their thoughts and memories and answered questions.

I even took some video and had it posted on the CHG website devoted to veterans of the various units.

http://sites.google.com/a/chgww2.net/vets101/Home

Don and Robert meet after 60+ year

 

[rmrdaddy]

RIP Shifty....another one of The Greatest Generation passes. Utterly Sad.

 

[Lincsong]

Nice shots there Dave.:eusa_clap

 

[Davep]

Nice shots there Dave.:eusa_clap

Don't forget the video, to hear Robert Noody sing to us was a joy. Don Malarkey also sang but I didn't get that part.

 

[rmrdaddy]

Those guys are just amazing. I have had the priviledge of meeting both "Wild Bill" Guarnere and "Babe" Heffron.
Babe's daughter is actually a friend of the Missus and I. Babe sent me a
101st T-Shirt and Hat before I had even met him! He and Bill both graciously signed both my Band Of Brothers DVD set and my copy of their book, Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends. These guys won't be around forever, treasure them TODAY!

 

[Davep]

Those guys are just amazing. I have had the priviledge of meeting both "Wild Bill" Guarnere and "Babe" Heffron.
Babe's daughter is actually a friend of the Missus and I. Babe sent me a
101st T-Shirt and Hat before I had even met him! He and Bill both graciously signed both my Band Of Brothers DVD set and my copy of their book, Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends. These guys won't be around forever, treasure them TODAY!

I truly enjoy Bill and Babe's book on audiobooks, I felt like they were talking to me; the reader was that good.

 

[Spitfire]

RIP mr. Powers

I remember the first time I watched Band of Brothers, how strong and utterly unselfish "Shifty" Powers came through in the documentary.
What a character. What a man.
May he rest in peace. Finally.

 

[DannyBoy]

I got to meet Shifty, Earl McClung, and Mo Alley, a couple years back at the Memorial Day Parade in D.C. Shifty was the nicest guy! I asked them to autograph an EM pass that I'd printed off the web, and after Shifty signed it Earl turned to him and said, "say Shifty you just signed him off for a weekend pass!" Shifty turned and looked at it again and said in his Virginian drawl "Oh My!" and laughed. He was a very quiet and soft spoken man. It was an honor to talk with him, one of those things I'll always remember. It was quite a shock to hear that he's left us.

 

[Lincsong]

Yeah, the video was priceless. Something that succeeding generations will be able to enjoy.:eusa_clap

 

[Davep]

Here is the five vets before and after pictures. unfortunatley I don't have a good before photo of Robert Janes

 

[Lincsong]

Not even time did these hero's in, they all look great for their ages.