LifeHiscost Posted January 29, 2013 Posted January 29, 2013 ______________our heros? Quote: And think of the media circus, flags at half staff, and all the things that were said of Whitney Houston when she died. This hero died with barely anyone's notice. No Comment required "Shifty" By Chuck Yeager 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 Jan. l7, 2012 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, on line, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans. Rest in peace, Shifty. Chuck Yeager, Maj. General [ret.] P.S. I think that it is amazing how the "media" chooses our "heroes" these days... Elvis, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston & the like. "SHIFTY" - an incredible American hero. We owe (much more) to our REAL heroes. God blesses! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
LifeHiscost Posted January 29, 2013 Author Posted January 29, 2013 Thought this would fit in here also. http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/piz...topstories.html God blesses! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
Ted Oplinger Posted January 29, 2013 Posted January 29, 2013 Yes, they are giants who kept us free. Lost my father-in-law 2 days after last Christmas. WWII vet; served in France. Was about to get shipped to the Pacific theater when Japan surrendered. May they rest in peace, and may we never forget liberty is never free. Blessings, Quote "As iron sharpens iron, so also does one man sharpen another" - Proverbs 27:17 "The offense of the cross is that the cross is a confession of human frailty and sin and of inability to do any good thing. To take the cross of Christ means to depend solely on Him for everything, and this is the abasement of all human pride. Men love to fancy themselves independent. But let the cross be preached, let it be made known that in man dwells no good thing and that all must be received as a gift, and straightway someone is offended." Ellet J. Waggoner, The Glad Tidings "Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway" - John Wayne "The person who pays an ounce of principle for a pound of popularity gets badly cheated" - Ronald Reagan
Administrators Naomi Posted January 29, 2013 Administrators Posted January 29, 2013 Yes, they are giants who kept us free. Lost my father-in-law 2 days after last Christmas. WWII vet; served in France. Was about to get shipped to the Pacific theater when Japan surrendered. May they rest in peace, and may we never forget liberty is never free.Blessings, Amen!! Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
doug yowell Posted January 30, 2013 Posted January 30, 2013 Great contribution to CA,LHC,thanks for the reminder. I've got Band of Brothers so I think I'll see who "Shifty" was cuz I don't remember. My dad was a Iwo Jima survivor. Too many questions and too many appreciations saved until too late to make a difference to them. Quote
Administrators Gail Posted January 30, 2013 Administrators Posted January 30, 2013 A big AMEN to that! I hate war but it's a big sacrifice that these brave souls have made. I, too, wish that they would be recognized better than they are. My dad, a Canadian vet, does enjoy being taken care of by the Government through the veterans' program. His medical bills are handled. How is it for the vets down in the U.S.? Do they receive governmental benefits for their service? Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
JoeMo Posted January 30, 2013 Posted January 30, 2013 Quote: I think that it is amazing how the "media" chooses our "heroes" these days...Elvis, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston & the like. Most of society has the "hero" scale turned upside down if you look at pay scales and modern memorials. For the most part, those who contribute the least to maintaining decent society (actors, entertainers, sports figures) make the most money and receive the most acclaim; while those who contribute the most (teachers, soldiers, cops) make the least money and receive the lion's share of scorn and criticism. It ain't right! Quote
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