Goodreads Reviews: Shifty's War

Shifty's War: The Authorized Biography of Sergeant Darrell "Shifty" Powers, the Legendary Sharpshooter from the Band of Brothers by Marcus Brotherton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not many people would believe that a soft spoken country boy from the tiny mining town of Clinchco, Virginia would have had the skills to kill eight men before his twenty-second birthday. But that was Darrell "Shifty" Powers, an expert marksman who only desired a quite country life. His upbringing in the woods and hunting with his father gave him the training he would need to hear, smell and even feel the approaching enemy. His sniper skills earned him a coveted marksmanship designation and the loyalty of his friends and respect from his commanding officers allowed him to go home early. However, after four years in war, Shifty almost didn't make it out of Germany.

Shifty's early life is similar to many of the Southerners who joined the war effort. Poor, growing up on farms and in mining towns, some of these boys dropped out of school as early as eleven years old to help support their families. Shifty's family life was warm and safe. He was an average teenager who enjoyed a little trouble every now and then, but really focus on finding a solid career as soon as possible.

After joining the paratroopers, Shifty was trained in Taccoa along with Popeye Winn (who he knew before the war) Dick Winters, Skip Muck, Joe Toye, George Luz and others. Shifty was well liked by everyone who knew him and he gives nothing but praise and warm memories to his old war friends. Shifty's war record starts on D-Day and fighting in every consecutive battle that Easy Company was sent into. Although quiet by nature, Shifty was a deadly sniper and he skills saved the lives of many of his friends. He was one of the few men that was never wounded, a remarkable feat in itself.

While on his way back home, Shifty was in a life threatening car accident. The irony being that he survived the entire war without a scratch, but almost dies getting hit by a truck. Shifty did eventually get back home and was able to return to living the life he wanted. He married, had two children and lived a relatively quiet life, until the Band of Brothers mini-series.

In spite of the simplicity of Shifty's story, his service during the war was remarkable. In many ways, Shifty certainly didn't want to be there, but he have the drive and stamina to survive. His devotion to his friends and the fact that he was responsible for their lives was unmatched. Shifty didn't set out to be a hero and even later on in life he never considered his marksmanship skills to be anything amazing. He was a young man knew he could contribute something to his country and the war effort and just maybe survive to go back home.