Shifty Powers Emotional & Tragic Last Day With Easy Company (Band of Brothers)

The scene in Episode 10 of Band of Brothers 'Points' where Shifty Powers sais his goodbyes to his former Easy Company CO, Major Richard Winters was one of the best in the series and even better, it played out pretty much exactly as it did in real life.
This is the story of Shifty's last day in Austria as told by the man himself.

[@bobearl5944]

Ah, Shifty. A simple, good man who volunteered his life for his country in a time when many who did so did not return. One of my personal heros.

[@charlessaint7926]

Shifty Powers had a keen hunter's instinct. During the siege of Bastogne, around 29 December 1944, Easy Company are in their foxholes when Shift noticed something in the distance. There was a tree, among a stand of trees, that wasn't there before. Curious about this, Shifty came from OP duty and told Carwood Lipton he noticed a tree in the forest that wasn't there before. Through his binoculars, Lipton, at first, couldn't see anything. Shifty insisted. Some more looking and Lipton noticed first movement and then gun barrels. It was a flak battery the Germans just installed. The tree Shifty noticed, was erected as part of the battery camouflage. Lipton put in a request for an artillery forward observer. It was granted. When the FO arrived, Shifty and Lipton pointed out this concealed battery. The defenders in Bastogne had a short supply of 105mm rounds. Despite this, the request for a bombardment was granted. The battery of 88mm flak guns was destroyed. Thereby reducing the risk for Allied aircraft. All because Shifty noticed a tree, among a grove of trees, that wasn't there the day before, from nearly a mile away.

[@johncourtney764]

I met Earl Mcclung at the Show of Shows Louisville 2006 .I arrived early before the buyers. Earl caught my attention with his hat 101st 506 PIR.I told him my Dad was a platoon leader and a company commander 2 502 101st 67 68 in Vietnam. We sat down and talked for about 2 hours. He told me he had a son who was in Vietnam. I thought how fortunate I was to meet him and kind and friendly he was.

[@armyvet8279]

Wow that would be a hell of a time to die after surviving the war just to get killed on your way to the boat ride home. Thanks for the video.

[@bmac454]

Your comment reminded me of song the men sung ,whilst travelling in jeeps " hell of a way to die " 🎵

[@davidcoleman757]

I do love the extra details in these. You've created something truly worthy and engaging. Many thanks.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thank you

[@dusterowner9978]

"A" company from 506th would make a hell of a mini series . Burgett's book series are incredible . Read them so many times my paperback versions fell apart .

[@plantfeeder6677]

I think the series said that the men of Easy Co. actually got home before he did cause he was stuck in a hospital in France recovering. They did a great job portraying his winning the lottery and his farewell with Dick Winters. I would've grabbed all the pistols and well maybe an MG42 also.

[@J.B.Martin]

God bless Easy, God bless Shifty and God bless you sir for your amazing consistent research! I found Shifty’s interviews in BofB one of the most emotional to listen to.

[@War_And_Truth]

I appreciate that

[@eamo106]

We know the story,, my sons and I met Shifty along with Bud Anderson in a veterans tent. Great day.

[@War_And_Truth]

Nice

[@davidknight1612]

Excellent I loved it!!

[@War_And_Truth]

Thank you very much!

[@rebeccabowers7423]

Loved this!

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks!

[@chris76346]

I was told about shifty and McClung having a shooting contest from their position above Foy. They would take shots at the Germans in town, and hitting them. Those shots were over 1000 yards

[@wmsd45]

A shame that Ambrose, Spielberg, and Hanks never hardly mentioned 3rd Platoon E/506, mainly because Ed Shames didn't play by their rules. Paul Rogers and Buck Taylor were top shelf NCOs and were never mentioned in the episodes. Shifty was featured but Earl McClung only mentioned in passing.

[@War_And_Truth]

It would have been better if the series was about Winters and they scripted it off his memoirs. Easy Company was a story all on its own.

[@bmac454]

Shifty was so popular with his comrades ,that draw for the man to go home looked fixed ? Ps chick on pin up at end film is a beauty ,is that pin up from war years ?

[@War_And_Truth]

Yes it is. But from Vietnam I think. She is stunning.

[@dlxmarks]

I wonder if Shifty was able to hang on to those pistols. I seem to recall that the _Band of Brothers_ book said that his cash was stolen after the accident which was most of his pay from his time in Europe.

[@War_And_Truth]

Apparently all of his belongings were stolen at the hospital though he didn't mention it in his memoirs.

[@michaelhayden725]

Not only did those thieving bastards in the hospitals, they even stole all his back pay!

[@JeffKing-qy9nw]

I’d heard that and hoped it wasn’t true. I’ve also heard that Shifty was depressed but after the stories came out and he started to talk about his experiences he was able to heal a little.

[@War_And_Truth]

@@JeffKing-qy9nw Not sure about Shifty but Malarkey was close to ending his life until the series came out and gave him a purpose (travelling and doing interviews etc)

[@JeffKing-qy9nw]

@@War_And_Truth maybe that’s what I’m thinking about. Thanks for the post & response

[@altongehringer9858]

It would be nice if you didn't keep switching between first and second person.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks for watching, ill keep that in mind.