I dont want to say the book was easy to read, because no war memoir should be, but it was an insightful read. In my head as I was reading, I imagined myself sitting in his lounge room, or on his back porch having a coffee and listening to his stories. I could hear Shifty in my head, reading this book to me. We hear how a young country boy from Clinch, Virginia, killed 8 men before he was twenty two. From family and friends, we get to hear of Shifty the family man. Marcus, through his research and interviews with other members of Easy Company, are able to share Shiftys experiences as a soldier. The words that come through the pages of Marcus Brotherton`s exquisite book, hand you everything. However, if you have seen Band of Brothers, if you have heard Shifty talk on the documentaries, you will note that the language in this book is an accurate reflection of Shifty and his tone and inflection of words. There have been some comments I have seen in book reviews, about how it is written in the first person, and after Shiftys death. Darrell, aka Shifty, was a quiet man, and well respected. There are still five to be reviewed on my list that I have not done yet, so here is the first one.ĭarrell Powers was the legendary sharpshooter from Band of Brothers, and rumour has it, he was used as inspiration for the sharpshooter in Saving Private Ryan too. ![]() I have read many books on the campaigns fought by Easy Company, in World War 2, put it this way, I have read fifteen so far. His words keep these men's honourable legacy alive and well.' Bob Welch, co-author of Easy Company Soldier 'A beautifully crafted insight into the life of a national treasure and backbone of 3rd Platoon, E Company, whose words are honestly conveyed through this tender and moving narrative.' Ian Gardner, co-author of Tonight We Die as Men 'Brotherton refuses to let the Band of Brothers go gentle into that good night. Shifty's War is a tale of heroism and adventure, of a soldier's blood-filled days fighting his way from the shores of France to the heartland of Germany, and the epic story of how one man's skills as a sharpshooter and engagingly unassuming personality propelled him to a life greater than he could have ever imagined. He parachuted into France on D day and fought for a month in Normandy eighty days in Holland thirty-nine in the harshly cold winter of Bastogne and for nearly thirty more near Haguenau, France, and the Ruhr pocket in Germany. ![]() As one of the original men who trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, Shifty was one out of only two soldiers in Easy Company to initially earn the coveted expert marksman designation. Little did Shifty know his finely-tuned skills would one day save his life - and the lives of his friends. ![]() His father trained him to listen to the woods, to 'see' without his eyes. As a boy growing up in the remote mining town of Clinchco, Virginia, Darrell 'Shifty' Powers's goal was to become the best rifle shot he could be.
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