Darrel "Shifty" Powers

Hello folks.

I am ashamed to say I did not know Shifty Powers passed away nearly a month ago. I received an e-mail from one of the fellas in my reenactment unit, and was amazed I had not heard about it earlier. A Google news search for "Shifty Powers" yielded underwhelming results. One of the most fitting tributes I found was on, oddly enough, a Miami Dolphins fan site.

At any rate, I've pasted the content from the e-mail below. Feel free to do the same and pass it on, of course.

We've heard a lot these days 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 24x7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

Andrew from Manion's on History Detectives

Hello again.

Many friends and customers have let me know they have indeed seen the first episode of History Detectives season VII - staring yours truly - in the "War Dog Letter" segment.

I contacted them over a year ago about a military grouping was consigned with the auction. The lot consisted of numerous photographs and documents relating to canine service during WWII. Much of the material was concerned with, interestingly enough, training on "Cat Island". I found a document which referred to a "Mr. Prestre" - apparently some sort of world renown dog trainer. The letter spoke of an investigation involving Prestre, and it sounded like he was in a world of trouble.

After a bit of research, I stumbled on a Google book listing for 1942 - The Year that Tried Men's Souls. It gave me a bit more information about Prestre, but it was really all I was able to find on the subject. I also contacted a historical society around Gulfport, Mississippi (Cat Island is off the coast of Gulfport), but they didn't have much for me - other than they did know that some men who were stationed on the island during WWII were still living in the area.

The resources available to me were tapped, so I contacted Lion Television - the company which produces History Detectives for PBS. I told them I thought it would make good TV and they agreed. I let them know what I had learned during my own history detective work, received permission from the consignor to send the documents, and off they went.

Several months later, I was booked on a flight to Virginia (Richmond, I think) for a day of shooting with Tukufu Zuberi and the rest of the Lion TV crew. We shot my segment in a house belonging to a relative of a crew member - everyone who has seen the program has commented on how nice "my house" is. I suspect they were able to shoot there for free (they are working for PBS afterall), and it was close to the current day dog training facility where they were also working.

Those familiar with the show know that in the first part of the segment the host asks a bit about the artifact in question, then goes off on a fact finding mission, and reports back to the inquirer some time later with the results of the investigation. Those familiar with video production know this all actually takes place in one day - at leat the questioning and reporting. Most of the research had been done before we filmed that day. But that is how it is done, and it still makes for damn fine television.

At any rate, it was a year in the making and it's finally aired. I've been advised that our Kansas City station will air the episode again in September - check with your local station for showimes in your area. Or, you can watch it here: Manion's International Auction House on History Detectives.

Oh yes, the grouping is currently up for bid - you can read the description here: WWII canine training "Cat Island" photos and documents. If the link won't work, just visit the home page - www.manions.com - and click the banner in the center of the page. The auction closes 7/28 and the reserve is set at a modest $500

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