![]() ![]() Winters says it best when he says to him: “You’re a hell of a fine soldier, Shifty.” Shifty saved many lives through numerous acts of bravery on his tour through Europe, and he’s one of the most skilled fighters in Easy Company. Dick Winters, “Back home in Virginia, well, I just don’t rightly know how I’m gonna explain all this.” Like any solider, he faces the difficult task of dealing with the horrors of occupied Europe. He sees D-Day, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. Powers goes through the worst that the Germans have to offer. They’re his best chance to survive the war, especially since Sgt. Shifty, who can hit almost any target right on the mark, earned the awe of his fellow soldiers after shooting a German sniper directly between the eyes.Ĭhallenge… using his hunting and outdoors experience to his advantage. Interests… hunting game and showing off his rifle skills. “Now Dad, he was an excellent shot-excellent, I declare. “No, no, I’m not a good shot,” he once says modestly. Shifty isn’t only revered for his wilderness survival skills, he’s also the best shot in Easy Company. Profession… Staff Sergeant and sharp shooter in the 101 st Airborne Division. Shifty missed his initial drop zone into Normandy on D-Day, but, by using his outdoor skills, eventually regrouped with Easy Company. Living… with his fellow soldiers on the frontline in occupied Europe. “Shifty” is known amongst the men in “Easy” Company as the resident expert on outdoor survival. He is buried at Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood, Russell County, Virginia.Grew up… in the backwoods of Dickenson County, Virginia. Powers died on 17 June 2009 of cancer in Dickenson County, Virginia. He is listed as one of 20 men from Easy Company who contributed to the 2009 book We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from the Band of Brothers, published by Penguin/Berkley-Caliber. Honorably discharged from the Army in the postwar demobilization, he became a machinist for the Clinchfield Coal Corporation. He spent many months recuperating in hospitals overseas while his comrades-in-arms arrived home long before he did. During the trip to the airfield, the vehicle that Shifty was in was involved in an accident and he was badly injured. Shifty Powers won this lottery after the rest of the company rigged it in his favor and was set to return stateside. Were it not for Shifty's keen observations and outdoors experiences, many lives may have been lost, had that enemy weapon not been spotted from a distance of nearly a mile away and amongst a literal forest of other trees.īecause many men serving in the 101st lacked the minimum points required to return home, a lottery was put in place. Shifty Powers was a non-commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during. The "tree" was ultimately discovered to be a camouflaged German artillery piece. One of his most truly remarkable achievements, and a testament to the extraordinary gifts his backwoods upbringing brought to Easy Company, was the story documented in the Ambrose book, Band of Brothers, about the time in Bastogne when Shifty mentioned to his commanding officer that he noticed a tree in the distant forest that was not there just the day before. They were responsible for everything from parachuting into France. Army, kept getting the tough assignments. ![]() He was generally considered to be the best shot in Easy Company. Easy Company, 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Company members say Powers saved many lives that day. With the aid of Carwood Lipton, Shifty made a heroic attempt and silenced the German with his M1 right between the eyes. While in Foy, a German sniper shot three members of Easy Company, and everyone hid for cover. Though he humbly told his comrades that his father was the best shot he'd ever seen, they still admired his sharpshooting skill. Shifty was well-known throughout the 101st for his accuracy when shooting his rifle. He also participated in the Allied military operation Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, and the Battle of the Bulge in Foy, Belgium. He eventually came in contact with Floyd Talbert and the two made their way to Easy Company. Powers jumped into Normandy on D-Day, missing his drop zone. He graduated from high school and enlisted on 14 August 1942 at Richmond, Virginia. This later proved useful, as many of the skills he obtained helped him as a soldier. Shifty spent a great deal of time in the outdoors, hunting game prior to joining the service. Powers was born in Clinchco, Dickenson County, Virginia and volunteered for the Paratroopers with his newly-met good friend, Robert "Popeye" Wynn. The 2011 book Shifty's War by journalist Marcus Brotherton, published by Penguin/Berkley-Caliber, captures Sgt. "Shifty" Powers was a non-commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II.
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