[clisbyclark]

recently while recovering from surgery. Stephen Ambrose mentioned multiple times how much the squirrel hunting that Shifty Powers did growing up in VA to help prepare him for wartime. I thought that was interesting. Unfortunately, Sgt. Powers had an unfortunate end to his service. While stattioned in Austria immediately following the German surrender, all the men were anxious to go home. Part of the "points" system that determined who would go home first was for medals. Sgt Powers was one of the few not to win a Purple Heart so he was behind the others. One day, there was a lotter to draw one man, no matter his points, to go home immediately. Powers was talked into entering and ended up getting drawn. On leaving the base, his jeep wrecked forcing him to spend several months in Europe recovering from his wounds. While in the hospital, someone stole all his loot-including several Lugers. Great book if you've never read it. Currahee Mountain near Toccoa, GA is about an hour away from my home.

 

[Citizen John]

also Sgt. York, WW1

 

[svfdfireman1]

also Sgt. York, WW1

I've watched the series/documentary so many times, I will buy the book.... Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Vee3]

Citizen Soldiers is another fantastic book by Ambrose.

 

[GE-Minigun]

Read one of Ambrose’s books…I think it was D-Day but do not remember. The couple thing was funny to me…during the push in-land they learned to rely on the cows. The soldiers would look for the cows to see what direction they were looking…about 90% of the time they would be looking towards any Germans that were in the field. It seems they are naturally curious and would be looking towards them, soldiers would then set up mortars and drop a couple. The other thing, he had interviewed a soldier that was talking about clearing the fields, seems the Germans would let them get into them a little then drop artillery into the field…guy says…it’s hard to believe a guy over 6’ tall could fit under one of those helmets. It has stuck with me since I read that 20+ years ago.

 

[Rocinante]

Good book.

 

[Al the Infidel]

I've watched the series 2X, does that count?

 

[jm17]

While recovering from back surgery last year I read 4 Stephen Ambrose books, "Nothing like it in the World", "Band of Brothers", "Undaunted Courage" and "Citizen Soldier". I enjoyed them all thoroughly.

 

[NoNewTricks]

I’ve got Band of Brothers and D-Day on Audible and both are a good listen. Also have 2 sets of the HBO series of BofB on DVD but don’t remember how I wound up with the second set. Musta been at a price I couldn’t resist.

 

[Turkeytider]

" Don`t miss Shifty." Shifty didn`t.

 

[smokefrog]

I've read a lot of generalised war history as well as individual accounts and It's an all too common occurrence among soldiers that get held in high regard with their tracking and marksmanship ability, they all grew up from a young age hunting animals for food or pest control.

It's something that is so lost on the broader society today, particularly people who want to ban hunting and find it disgusting that young kids could even be involved in such activities.
They have a perception that the military can just create people who go on to be the pinnacle of a squad or platoon and save countless peoples lives, but these people more often than not are people who have had firearm and hunting experience from very young ages well before the thought of becoming a soldier.

I really enjoyed the Band of Brothers books and TV series, along with The Pacific and to a lesser extent Generation Kill.

I also enjoyed Ambrose's other titles, as mentioned Citizen Soldiers, D-Day and the lesser known(?) Pegasus Bridge.

I went down a rabbit hole with Band of Brothers (and a little with The Pacific) and really enjoyed the books by or about specific soldiers.

With the Old Breed - Eugene Sledge

Beyond Band of Brothers - Major Dick Winters
Shifty's War - Shifty Powers
Easy Company Soldier - Don Malarky
Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends - Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron
We Who Are Alive and Remain

There is a new one coming in the next couple of months about Ronald Speirs, Fierce Valour.

I also really enjoyed Gallipoli Sniper, about an Australian ANZAC soldier at Gallipoli WW1, a Chinese/English Australian, Billy Sing, who was ostracised due to racial issues of the era, but one of the most phenomenal shots at the time. He was a phenomenal shot / hunter from an extremely young age, well before the war.


Whilst on book recommendations I also loved the book which was made into the movie 'We Were Soldiers Once...and Young' about Hal Moore, Joe Galloway and the 7th Cavalry in the battle of the Ia Drang, Vietnam. Great book and movie.

 

[smatda]

My dad and uncle both worked with Shifty at Clinchfield Coal and spoke very highly of him. A master machinist and a truly good man. I've visited his grave a couple of times. If you're ever in Castlewood, Virginia go to the Temple Hill Cemetery and look for an Airborne flag. That's where Shifty was laid to rest.

 

[Turkeytider]

I've read a lot of generalised war history as well as individual accounts and It's an all too common occurrence among soldiers that get held in high regard with their tracking and marksmanship ability, they all grew up from a young age hunting animals for food or pest control.

It's something that is so lost on the broader society today, particularly people who want to ban hunting and find it disgusting that young kids could even be involved in such activities.
They have a perception that the military can just create people who go on to be the pinnacle of a squad or platoon and save countless peoples lives, but these people more often than not are people who have had firearm and hunting experience from very young ages well before the thought of becoming a soldier.

I really enjoyed the Band of Brothers books and TV series, along with The Pacific and to a lesser extent Generation Kill.

I also enjoyed Ambrose's other titles, as mentioned Citizen Soldiers, D-Day and the lesser known(?) Pegasus Bridge.

I went down a rabbit hole with Band of Brothers (and a little with The Pacific) and really enjoyed the books by or about specific soldiers.

With the Old Breed - Eugene Sledge

Beyond Band of Brothers - Major Dick Winters
Shifty's War - Shifty Powers
Easy Company Soldier - Don Malarky
Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends - Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron
We Who Are Alive and Remain

There is a new one coming in the next couple of months about Ronald Speirs, Fierce Valour.

I also really enjoyed Gallipoli Sniper, about an Australian ANZAC soldier at Gallipoli WW1, a Chinese/English Australian, Billy Sing, who was ostracised due to racial issues of the era, but one of the most phenomenal shots at the time. He was a phenomenal shot / hunter from an extremely young age, well before the war.


Whilst on book recommendations I also loved the book which was made into the movie 'We Were Soldiers Once...and Young' about Hal Moore, Joe Galloway and the 7th Cavalry in the battle of the Ia Drang, Vietnam. Great book and movie.

I saw a quote somewhere in which Dick Winters characterized Ronald Spiers as a " natural born killer ". He meant it as a compliment. I could be wrong, but I also think I saw where Shifty was generally considered the best rifle marksman in the company (? ).