Pat Tillman - A True Hero

[Rooster7]

Pat Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals safety who left a million dollar NFL career to become a U.S. Army Ranger, has been killed in Afghanistan.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36390-2004Apr23.html

 

Truly, in today's world, it's rare to witness the bravery and selflessness that this young man displayed.

[Eamonn]

While I agree with you whole heartedly. I would add that all those who are over there putting their lives on the line are hero's.

Pray for our Troops.

Eamonn

[Fat Old Guy]

Attention! Scout Salute!

 

 

 

Two.

 

 

[eisely]

It is highly unusual for anyone to give up a high income career to enlist at the bottom of the ladder in the military. While all the young people who have volunteered for military service are to be thanked and saluted, his sacrifice was unique.

[eisely]

The Wall Street Journal on line put up this earlier column about Pat Tillman written by Peggy Noonan.

_______________________

 

Privileged to Serve

In this war, not only the sons and daughters of the poor are enlisting.

 

Friday, April 23, 2004 1:45 p.m. EDT

 

(Editor's note: This column appeared on July 12, 2002. Pat Tillman died in combat in Afghanistan yesterday.)

 

Maybe he was thinking Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Maybe it was visceral, not so much thought as felt, and acted upon. We don't know because he won't say, at least not in public. Which is itself unusual. Silence is the refuge of celebrities caught in scandal, not the usual response of those caught red-handed doing good.

 

All we know is that 25-year-old Pat Tillman, a rising pro football player (224 tackles in 2000 as a defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals, a team record) came back from his honeymoon seven weeks ago and told his coaches he would turn down a three-year, $3.6 million contract and instead join the U.S. Army. For a pay cut of roughly $3.54 million dollars over three years.

 

On Monday morning, Pat Tillman "came in like everyone else, on a bus from a processing station," according to a public information officer at Fort Benning, Ga., and received the outward signs of the leveling anonymity of the armed forces: a bad haircut, a good uniform and physical testing to see if he is up to the rigors of being a soldier. Soon he begins basic training. And whatever else happened this week--Wall Street news, speeches on the economy--nothing seems bigger, more important and more suggestive of change than what Pat Tillman did.

 

Those who know him say it's typical Tillman, a surprise decision based on his vision of what would be a good thing to do. When he was in college he sometimes climbed to the top of a stadium light tower to think and meditate. After his great 2000 season he was offered a $9 million, five-year contract with the St. Louis Rams and said thanks but no, he was happy with the Cardinals.

 

But it was clear to those who knew Mr. Tillman that after September 11 something changed. The attack on America had prompted a rethinking. Len Pasquarelli of ESPN reported last May that the "free-spirited but consummately disciplined" starting strong safety told friends and relatives that, in Mr. Pasquarelli's words, "his conscience would not allow him to tackle opposition fullbacks where there is still a bigger enemy that needs to be stopped in its tracks." Mr. Tillman's agent and friend Frank Bauer: "This is something he feels he has to do. For him, it's a mindset, a duty."

 

"I'm sorry, but he is not taking inquiries," said the spokeswoman at Fort Benning. She laughed when I pressed to speak to someone who might have seen Mr. Tillman or talked to him. Men entering basic training don't break for interviews, she said. Besides, "he has asked not to have any coverage. We've been respecting his wishes. And kinda hoping he'd change his mind." Mr. Tillman would, of course, be a mighty recruiting device. The Army might have enjoyed inviting television cameras to record his haircut, as they did with Elvis. But Mr. Tillman, the Fort Benning spokesman says, "wants to be anonymous like everyone else."

Right now he has 13 weeks of basic training ahead of him, then three weeks of Airborne School, and then, if he makes it, Ranger School, where only about a third of the candidates are accepted. "It's a long row," said the Fort Benning spokesman, who seemed to suggest it would be all right to call again around Christmas. Until then he'll be working hard trying to become what he wants to become.

 

Which I guess says it all.

 

Except for this. We are making a lot of Tillmans in America, and one wonders if this has been sufficiently noted. The other day friends, a conservative intellectual and his activist wife, sent a picture of their son Gabe, a proud and newly minted Marine. And there is Abe, son of a former high aide to Al Gore, who is a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy, flying SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. A network journalist and his wife, also friends, speak with anguished pride of their son, in harm's way as a full corporal in the Marines. The son of a noted historian has joined up; the son of a conservative columnist has just finished his hitch in the Marines; and the son of a bureau chief of a famous magazine was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army last month, on the day he graduated from Princeton.

 

As the Vietnam-era song said, "Something's happening here." And what it is may be exactly clear. Some very talented young men, and women, are joining the armed forces in order to help their country because, apparently, they love it. After what our society and culture have been through and become the past 30 years or so, you wouldn't be sure that we would still be making their kind, but we are. As for their spirit, Abe's mother reports, "Last New Year's, Abe and his roommate [another young officer] were home and the topic came up about how little they are paid [compared with] the kids who graduated from college at the same time they did and went into business.

 

"Without missing a beat the two of them said, 'Yeah--but we get to get shot at!' and raised their beer bottles. No resentment. No anger. Just pure . . . testosterone-laden bravado."

 

The Abes and Gabes join a long old line of elders dressed in green, blue, gray, white, gold and black. Pat Tillman joins a similar line, of stars who decided they had work to do, and must leave their careers to do it. They include, among others, the actors Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable and Tyrone Power in World War II; sports stars Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio in the same war; and quarterback Roger Staubach in Vietnam. It is good to see their style return, and be considered noble again.

And good to see what appears to be part of, or the beginning of, a change in armed forces volunteering. In the Vietnam era of my youth it was poor and working-class boys whom I saw drafted or eagerly volunteering. Now more and more I see the sons and daughters of the privileged joining up.

 

That is a bigger and better story than usually makes the front page. Markets rise and fall, politicians come and go, but that we still make Tillmans is headline news.

 

Ms. Noonan is a contributing editor of The Wall Street Journal and author of "A Heart, a Cross, and a Flag" (Wall Street Journal Books/Simon & Schuster), a collection of post-Sept. 11 columns, which you can buy from the OpinionJournal bookstore. Her column appears Thursdays.

 

 

[Laurie]

What an incredible man! I just read his story, and I am both saddened and awed by it. Thank you for sharing this link. I am particularly touched by the following quotes, and I am not sure that I ever have made a decision so selfless as he did.

 

His coach at the Cardinals, Dave McGinnis, told Sports Illustrated at the time that "this is very serious with Pat. It's very personal, and I honor that. I honor the integrity of that. It was not a snap decision he woke up and made yesterday. This has been an ongoing process, and he feels very strongly about it."

 

"Pat knew his purpose in life," McGinnis said. "He proudly walked away from a career in football to a greater calling, which was to protect and defend our country. Pat represents those who have and will make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I am overwhelmed with a sense of sorrow, but I also feel a tremendous feeling of pride for him and his service."

 

 

 

 

 

(This message has been edited by Laurie)

[CTBoyScout101]

He truely was an American hero, and to those 680+ men and women who died during the course of this war, you will never be forgotten. I strongly would ask everyone to pray that this war is over soon, my grandfather was a naval officer during WW2 and my father a Colonial during Vietnam, they know the dangers that lurk in combat and risk their lives for our safety, freedom, and the well being of nations throughout the world. With that, I salute the troops of not only our country, but Britain and Italy, as well as others that support our cause and spread the message of freedom around the world.

 

CTBoyScout101

[molscouter]

This column by Dan Wetzel says mountains about the man:

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBqdGgyMXV0BF9TAzI1NjY0ODI1BHNlYwNlY2w-?slug=dw-tillman&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

You may have to paste the link, I'm not computer saavy enough to handle two line links.(This message has been edited by molscouter)

[Rooster7]

Who said

 

All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.

 

Pat Tillman was a good man who chose to do something.

 

He is the kind of man that I want to know and have as a friend. It is my prayer that my sons will get to know such men and be mentored by them.

 

About a month ago, my pastor noted a young serviceman in attendance at our Sunday worship service that had just returned from Iraq. The congregation applauded. I wanted to stand up and turn around to face him, so he could understand just how much his bravery was appreciated. However, I did not want to risk the embarrassment. That is to say, I did want to be the only one standing. So I submitted to my sense of pride and remained seated. Today, reading about Pat Tillmans life, I am ashamed. The next time I have an opportunity to thank a young man who risked it allI wont let it slip away. Even if I were the only one standing and applauding in admiration the cost or rather, my embarrassment would be an extremely small price to pay to let these boys know that theyre loved and that we honor them.

 

[MrsSmith]

This is something about which everyone can agree(This message has been edited by MrsSmith)

[hops_scout]

RANGER Tillman is a true patriot. He gave up fortunes to serve his country. RANGER Tillman served in Afghanistan alongside his brother who joined at the same time shortly after September 11, 2001.

 

As many who know me do know, I have the desire to do what he did. Both in being a professional athlete and becoming one of Americas elite, the Army RANGERS as a member of the 75th RANGER Regiment headquartered at Fort Benning, Georgia. According to Fox New Channel, he was a member of the 1st Bn. From Fort Lewis, Washington. It has been confirmed that his RANGER platoon was on patrol in the mountains when they came under small arms fire killing RANGER Tillman.

 

Many of you have stated how he is just one of many who have died. That is very true and I am thankful for each and every one of them. I feel, though, that he receive a little big more because we know his story and what he did to serve his country.

 

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY

 

WE SHALL NEVER FORGET

 

[dsteele]

Rooster7:

 

You probably weren't the only one who wanted to stand an applaud. Usually the crowd waits for someone to start the standing ovation, and then they rise. I suspect you'll be the first to rise next time.

 

God Bless the United States of America and those who keep it free!

[scoutingagain]

Rooster,

 

Thanks for starting this thread. I saw this on the news last week, and like all was saddened and awed.

 

I was reminded of a statment I believe was attributed to Admiral Nimitz. While watching flight operations on a carrier deck during the Battle of Midway, sending off a squadron of planes that was nearly certain not to return, the Admiral was heard to say something like, "My God, where do we find men(and today women) such as these?"

 

Rooster, like you I am not a particularly outgoing or demonstrative person. But at our company Chrismas Party this year we had two Marines in dress blues collecting Toys for Tots. I normally just drop a gift, smile and move on. This year I made a point of talking to the two young men, one was from a working class town in Massachusetts, the other from central New Jersey. I thanked them both for their service and shook their hands. It was a private moment, and I had to turn away quickly because I didn't want the Marines to see the tears welling up in my eyes.

 

As Mrs. Smith said this is something we can all agree on. We have an all volunteer service and while not all give up what Pat Tillman did, they all give up years of their youth, a chance to live in peace and other opportunities their peers that do not join enjoy. God Bless them all.

 

SA

 

 

 

 

[eisely]

If you or I were to write something like this, we would likely be charged with a hate crime. The hate and venom on display in this piece by a graduate student here in the United States needs to be brought into the daylight. I pasted this not to belittle Pat Tillman, to inform you of some of the incredible attitudes present on our campuses.

___________________________

 

Pat Tillman is not a hero: He got what was coming to him

 

By Rene Gonzalez

April 28, 2004

 

 

When the death of Pat Tillman occurred, I turned to my friend who was watching the news with me and said, "How much you want to bet they start talking about him as a 'hero' in about two hours?" Of course, my friend did not want to make that bet. He'd lose. In this self-critical incapable nation, nothing but a knee-jerk "He's a hero" response is to be expected.

 

I've been mystified at the absolute nonsense of being in "awe" of Tillman's "sacrifice" that has been the American response. Mystified, but not surprised. True, it's not everyday that you forgo a $3.6 million contract for joining the military. And, not just the regular army, but the elite Army Rangers. You know he was a real Rambo, who wanted to be in the "real" thick of things. I could tell he was that type of macho guy, from his scowling, beefy face on the CNN pictures. Well, he got his wish. Even Rambo got shot in the third movie, but in real life, you die as a result of being shot. They should call Pat Tillman's army life "Rambo 4: Rambo Attempts to Strike Back at His Former Rambo 3 Taliban Friends, and Gets Killed."

 

But, does that make him a hero? I guess it's a matter of perspective. For people in the United States, who seem to be unable to admit the stupidity of both the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars, such a trade-off in life standards (if not expectancy) is nothing short of heroic. Obviously, the man must be made of "stronger stuff" to have had decided to "serve" his country rather than take from it. It's the old JFK exhortation to citizen service to the nation, and it seems to strike an emotional chord. So, it's understandable why Americans automatically knee-jerk into hero worship.

 

However, in my neighborhood in Puerto Rico, Tillman would have been called a "pendejo," an idiot. Tillman, in the absurd belief that he was defending or serving his all-powerful country from a seventh-rate, Third World nation devastated by the previous conflicts it had endured, decided to give up a comfortable life to place himself in a combat situation that cost him his life. This was not "Ramon or Tyrone," who joined the military out of financial necessity, or to have a chance at education. This was a "G.I. Joe" guy who got what was coming to him. That was not heroism, it was prophetic idiocy.

 

Tillman, probably acting out his nationalist-patriotic fantasies forged in years of exposure to Clint Eastwood and Rambo movies, decided to insert himself into a conflict he didn't need to insert himself into. It wasn't like he was defending the East coast from an invasion of a foreign power. THAT would have been heroic and laudable. What he did was make himself useful to a foreign invading army, and he paid for it. It's hard to say I have any sympathy for his death because I don't feel like his "service" was necessary. He wasn't defending me, nor was he defending the Afghani people. He was acting out his macho, patriotic crap and I guess someone with a bigger gun did him in.

 

Perhaps it's the old, dreamy American thought process that forces them to put sports greats and "larger than life" sacrificial lambs on the pedestal of heroism, no matter what they've done. After all, the American nation has no other role to play but to be the cheerleaders of the home team; a sad role to have to play during conflicts that suffer from severe legitimacy and credibility problems.

 

Matters are a little clearer for those living outside the American borders. Tillman got himself killed in a country other than his own without having been forced to go over to that country to kill its people. After all, whether we like them or not, the Taliban is more Afghani than we are. Their resistance is more legitimate than our invasion, regardless of the fact that our social values are probably more enlightened than theirs. For that, he shouldn't be hailed as a hero, he should be used as a poster boy for the dangerous consequences of too much "America is #1," frat boy, propaganda bull. It might just make a regular man irrationally drop $3.6 million to go fight in a conflict that was anything but "self-defense." The same could be said of the unusual belief of 50 percent of the American nation that thinks Saddam Hussein was behind Sept. 11. One must indeed stand in awe of the amazing success of the American propaganda machine. It works wonders.

 

Al-Qaeda won't be defeated in Afghanistan, even if we did kill all their operatives there. Only through careful and logical changing of the underlying conditions that allow for the ideology to foster will Al-Qaeda be defeated. Ask the Israelis if 50 years of blunt force have eradicated the Palestinian resistance. For that reason, Tillman's service, along with that of thousands of American soldiers, has been wrongly utilized. He did die in vain, because in the years to come, we will realize the irrationality of the War on Terror and the American reaction to Sept. 11. The sad part is that we won't realize it before we send more people like Pat Tillman over to their deaths.

 

Rene Gonzalez is a UMass graduate student.

 

 

[Fat Old Guy]

Ah, the beauty of the freedom of speech.

 

Ms Gonzalez mocks Tillman's beefy, masculine appearance and probably like men who are soft, dainty, and pliable. That is until some drunk decides to accost her in an bar then she'll be screaming at her date, "Act like a man! Defend me!"

 

Evidently, in Ms Rodriguiz' mind, the only reason to be willing to put yourself in harm's way is money.