Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Division. 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.
Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way."
I've always felt veterans are given a raw deal. When I was a kid in England I would always march in the Parades for D Day, and Memorial day (as an Army cadet). I was always moved by the sight of those dignified old gentlemen in their uniforms. Even though i ended up not pursuing a career in the military I have nothing but respect for those men and women who went out knowing what they may have to sacrifice. It breaks my heart every time I see a homeless vet. or read about the conditions of the VA hospitals.
I try to send a gift to they guys out there now when I can. Not much, i know, buta couple of bags of decent coffee and a note of thanks.
My dad was one of those quiet heroes. He hated it when someone tried to make a big deal out of his service. His attitude was that he had simply done what any normal man would have done, if given a chance or a choice.
My dad was one of those quiet heroes. He hated it when someone tried to make a big deal out of his service. His attitude was that he had simply done what any normal man would have done, if given a chance or a choice.
I think a lot of them are like your Dad Troy. One doesn't have to believe in heroes to be one. He did his part and I for one am grateful.
I have watched the series many times. I don't care how many times I see it, but when its on the History Ch. I will watch as many episodes as I can. IMO, the show never gets old, even if I know what is going to happen next, or what they are going to say or do. The interviews are the most interesting, and 60+ years later, it is still hard to recall those grim details of battle. I can't imagine what it was like for the men that served, especially those in the 101st at Bastogne. It is unfortunate that so many of the veterans are passing on at such a high rate this day in age. I'm sure every one of them would humbly state they wouldn't want all the media footage at a funeral, because I sure am tired of the media coverage with all the Michael Jackson stuff. He doesn't deserve any of it. We know who deserves it. All that served and have been killed in action. Those are the real heroes. I can recall a quote by Dick Winters in one of his interviews on Band of Brothers when his grandson asked him if he was a hero. He simply said those that didn't come home are the real heroes. I have lost a friend to the war in Iraq. The only thing he asked for if he didn't make it back after his tour was up, was a scholarship in his honor where we went to high school together. It has been more than three years now, and the scholarship grows more and more each year as word gets around. Where is the media coverage for something like this? Something for the vets? Thanks to all that have served, and are still serving. And thanks to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. You will not be forgotten.
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Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!
That's amazing that you actually got to have a convo with him. i prolly would have gotten all choked up as well. War is brutal. It's amazing he made it out alive and he was lucky to have lived a full life.
That's amazing that you actually got to have a convo with him. i prolly would have gotten all choked up as well. War is brutal. It's amazing he made it out alive and he was lucky to have lived a full life.
Here's to Shifty!! (chugs beer)
I'm very sorry if I left the impression that this actually happened to me. It did not. I put most of the meat of my initial post in quotation marks and included the footnote **Not me.
It did apparently happen to someone who posted it somewhere, where I found it and intended merely to relay the sad new.
The interviews with him on the "BoB" DVDs reveal what a nice, gentle, and thoughtful person he was. The world needs so many more people like "Shifty", yet the low-lifes seem to be multiplying while folks like "Shifty" should be on the endangered species list. I just had a mental image of him, lying on a cloud - guarding the Gates, from a distance, with his trusty Garand.
Talk to your Fathers and Grandfathers - before its too late.
Talk to your Sons, Fathers, Brothers, friends who've been to one of the sandboxes. At least tell them that you are proud of their sacrifice and service.
