Celbrity Deaths Overshadow True Hero's Death

[buckhunter]

Darrell "Shifty" Powers died on June 17th at age 86...of "Band of Brothers" fame. All I can say is "I am shocked"...I had no idea and I think that's sad...With all of the hype and attention the past month that has hit the newstands about celebrity deaths, we missed a grand opportunity to say farewell to a true hero...a true "celebrity" (Although he would have told you that he was just an old soldier)... We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. Please tell this story to your kids...we need another generation, just like the one that Shifty Powers is from to rise up out of the ashes and save this nation. The country has been turned upside down by the lust for celebrity attention, wealth, personal gain and selfish motives...a "what's in it for me" and "How do I get ahead the easiest route" mentality. We have become an immoral, backward thinking nation...Oh, where God are the Shifty Powers' of this generation? The GREATEST GENERATION is slowly disappearing as we rapidly are losing touch with reality. That generation and their predecessors built this nation from sweat, blood and tears. Thank God it wasn't our current generation that came first...where would we be right now? If you have difficulty shedding a tear as you read this bulletin I recommend you re-evaluate your own motives in life. Shifty Powers...we few, we happy few, we band of brothers, SALUTE YOU!!! May your memory live in the hearts of us all for an eternity.

“A Soldier Died Today”
(Unknown Author)

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast. And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past, of war that he had fought in and deeds that he had done. In his exploits with his buddies, they were heroes, everyone. And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke. But we’ll hear his tales no longer, for old Bob has passed away. And the world’s a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

No, he won’t be mourned by many, just his children and his wife. For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life. He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way, and the world won’t note his passing, ‘tho a soldier died today. When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their life stories, from the time that they were young, but the passing of a soldier, goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution, to welfare of our land, some man who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man? Or the ordinary fellow, who, in times of war and strife, Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life? The politician’s stipend and the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportional, to the services he gives. While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal, and perhaps a pension small.

It’s so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago, That our Bob’s and Jim’s and Cathy’s, went to battle, But we know it was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys, Who won for us the Freedom, that our Country now enjoys. Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his ever-waffling stand? Or would you want a soldier, who has sworn to defend, His home, his kin,
And country, and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin, but his presence should remind us, we may need his likes again. For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier’s part, is to clean up the troubles, that the politicians start. If we cannot do him honor, while he’s here to hear the praise, Then at least let’s give him homage, at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline, in the paper that might say:

“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY”

“‘Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.’” John 15:13 (NASB)

Most gave some . . . some gave ALL!

Here are a couple of videos illustrating Shifty's story.

Newsvine - Remembering Shifty, American hero

YouTube - "Shifty" Powers Tribute

[manoman]

I am heartsick....everytime I watch the HBO special, which is almost every other month, I wonder why I have not seen or heard any notices of any of the brothers deaths. Where were the journalists? Following the money, of course! Buckhunter, you, and all the other veterens have to feel this pain way more than I do, because I never served in the armed forces, and I cannot imagine how it effects you. I know I will probably cry when Major Dick Winters leaves us. He is 91 years old and still on his Pennsylvania farm. Shifty Powers had a huge and deadly talent with the use of firearms, but he wouldn't harm a living thing in any other situation.

What a tragic waste of a what should have been a huge headline. Instead, we have to wade through the debris of super-egos and manic papprattzi.

[henry english]

R .I . P. , shifty , you did what ya had to do , i salute you and mourn your passing .

henry

[kentlangreder]

he is in gods hands now being honored like he should be !!! may he rest in peace !!!

kent