OldGobbler

OG Gear Store
Sum Toy
Dave Smith
Wood Haven
North Mountain Gear
North Mountain Gear
turkeys for tomorrow

News:

registration is free , easy and welcomed !!!

Main Menu

A Message From Chuck Yeager.

Started by redarrow, March 19, 2011, 12:59:07 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

redarrow

Thought i would pass along an e mail I received this morning.

"SHIFTY" - an incredible American Hero
SHIFTY DIED JAN 17, 2011..........May God rest his soul.

                                                                                                                      Shifty!! by Chuck Yeager
  One hero paying homage to another!!





"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 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, online, in our own quiet way.

Please forward this email to everyone you know.  Especially to the veterans.   

Rest in peace, Shifty.   

Chuck Yeager, Maj. Gen. [ret.]

Hognutz

That is a good one. I have watched the show Band of Brothers, and thos guys went through H$ll and back. What an awesome tribute to a hero. Thanks, Red..Mike :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an
May I assume you're not here to inquire about the alcohol or the tobacco?
If attacked by a mob of clowns, go for the juggler.


chatterbox

God Bless You, Shifty.
May you rest in peace. :cross2: :cross2: :cross2:

TrackeySauresRex

 :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an A true American hero. Thank You RIP God Bless  :cross2:
"If You Call Them,They Will Come."


WyoHunter

A wonderful tribute for a great man by a great man. May he rest in peace.  :jesus-cross:
If I had a dollar for every gobbler I thought I fooled I'd be well off!

handcannon

One of my all time favorite shows. I've watched it a couple of times but could sit down and watch it again. True hero's of this nation. Shifty was a great man who gave a great service to all of us. May he rest in peace.

Thanks for sharing.

OLE RASPY


kamski1151



When I'm not in the woods, I'm honkin on a Blues Harp

hookedspur

CRUSADERS
2016-2017-2018-2019-2020- 2021
Six time Old Gobbler Contest Champions



doepee

A great tribute to a true american hero-- we probably couldnt even imagine what he went through in his life!! :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an :thanks: :jesus-cross:


FttFttVroom!

Man, that tears me up a little....God Bless you Shifty, and all servicemen past and present :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an :jesus-cross:

Woodsman4God

Its so sad that people dont seem to remeber the true heros, those guys gave away part of their soul seeing what they had to see and doing what they had to do. RIP Shifty may you hear those wonderful words Well done my Good and faithful servant

ncturkey


unclerick

Thank You sir for being there when our country needed you and doing what needed to be done, you and all the brave heros of WWII will be greatly remembered and missed, thanks for being my hero.

                                       :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an
Before all else fails,talk to Jesus