From Flint MI Journal ...They said it better than I could have...

swede


In sports, we are quick to use words such as "courageous" and "fearless" to describe athletes who shine in crucial moments.
And we casually toss around the terms "war," "battle," and "do or die" to explain tense moments in a competitive contest.
But the death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman reminds us of how loosely those words are used.
Military officials say Tillman, the former Arizona Cardinal who walked away from an NFL career and a multimillion-dollar contract, was killed in a firefight in Afghanistan. He was 27.
Tillman was a safety who played four seasons with the Cardinals. He left the team in 2002 to enlist in the Army. His brother, Kevin, is also enlisted.
Tillman did not join the Army to be stationed far from danger, although that's something he could've probably worked out, considering his status as an NFL player. Tillman could've easily been put in a PR department and used as a recruiter.
Nor was he like Tiger Woods, who wanted to spend a few days training at a boot camp to get an idea of what his father did many years ago.
No, Pat Tillman was serious about serving, simply because he felt it was the right thing to do.
He did it without fanfare. He shunned media interviews. The sincerity of his actions left an impression with Arizona Sen. John McCain.
"He viewed his decision as no more patriotic than that of his less fortunate, less renowned countrymen who loved our country enough to volunteer to defend her in a time of peril," McCain told The Associated Press.
Obviously, Pat Tillman is a different kind of guy. His coaches said he played all out. He probably did everything all-out. Not many athletes graduate from Arizona State in only 31/2 years with a 3.84 grade point average.
Not only is the kind of selflessness Tillman showed missing from most pro athletes, it's missing from most people.
"In today's world of instant gratification and selfishness, here is a man that was defined by words like loyalty, honor, passion, courage, strength and nobility," Bob Ferguson, the Seattle Seahawks general manager told the AP. "He is a modern day hero."
If nothing else, perhaps Tillman's death will serve as a sobering reminder about what's really important in life.
He realized there were bigger things than the NFL. If he can understand that, we should be able to realize how the Lions fare in the draft, and whether the
Pistons and Red Wings can get back on track, doesn't mean that much.
The struggle that Tillman, and the men and women in the armed forces, face each day are far more important.
The task of performing under pressure for them doesn't mean a victory or loss, it means life or death.

It's sad when ANY American dies on foreign soil. Always a tragedy for the families whose loved one is gone.
TR

It is sadder when a "MAN" dies.

I did not post this to denigrate anyone killed or wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan. We are all in debt to those who put on a uniform every day.

I do feel however that Pat Tillman deserves a small bit of recognition for standing by his principles and doing what he felt was necessary instead of ignoring the situation (staying in football) or playing to the press.

He was a "hero" and a "man". He stood true to his principles and that is a rare thing today. It should be an inspiration to us all.


swede

I remember when Tillman first announced he was quitting the NFL to go into the Rangers. I was so shocked (and proud) that any pro athlete would shun the wealthy/celebrity style of the NFL to defend his country. Heck, even if he HAD become a recruiter, he'd have been a hero just for enlisting. As it was, he wanted to fight the enemy, and help bring freedom to a nation he knew little about. In a time of so few heroes, he was a giant among men. May he reside in Valhalla with the other great warriors!

PJ

All the men and women who have have put on the uniform, gone into harms way and given their lives deserve as much recognition as Tillman. None are less than he. We all owe them.

Those who are looked upon as "heroes" or looked up too by others,should back off and re evaluate "Who" they "are"..
Now,I havent kept up with professional football for over twenty years,but , in a world of ludicrous payrolls,where fame,fortune,and recognition are easily had in exchange for your talents on the football field,baseball diamond or basketball court,it's nice, but also sad to see there are at least two people out there with their heads screwed on correctly ..
Tiger Woods,after 9/11/2001,went to boot camp for a few days,to see what his dad went through years ago.
Pat Tillman, a player for the Arizona Cardinals ( I thought they were in Saint Louis),and his brother,who played professional baseball,walked away from professional sports in 2002,to join the Army.
As Pat said "it's my duty"
Now,these guys could have taken a posh PR job or some such thing as that,but no, they joined the Rangers..
Well,Pat was killed Thursday in Afghanistan,in an ambush.
Rest In Peace,my friend..
It's a shame that only two out of several thousand professional atheletes had the guts to step up to the line,when duty called.

I didnt realize this was posted here,and just posted in miltary news,not as detailed.
But when,in an all volunteer force,someone in Pat's position does something like this,it is something to take note of.
"MAN",sure he was a man..
Anyone who would walk away from what he had,and go to the fighting instead of a cushy desk job (which he could have very easily gotten) deserves respect in my book.

YES, YES, YES !!!
I agree with fivequarter.
I'll give a salute and prayer to each and everyone in UNIFORM.
Webfoot
USN 75-80

webfoot,where were you I was Navy from 74-86
GMG1

I Can think of no better tribute to such a MAN as this...

"Then out spake brave Horatius,
The captain of the gate:
"To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temple of his God?"
-Macaulay

Hey guys, I don't want to offend anyone that has posted here, and I believe we all appreciate the sacrifices made by everyone that has served our country.

But... I'm going to merge this thread with the one in Military News, it seems a more fitting place for it.

Arizona Ranger,

HT2, LPD-7 Flight Deck Repair Party Leader & CG-22
LBNSY.
Webfoot

Webfoot:
DE/FF-1056
CG-17
DD-978

My heart goes out to the Tillman family and to the families of all those who have given their all for God and Country both in our current conflicts and in prior ones. God bless our troops hero's all.

I find this post interesting as it reminds me of my time in Viet-Nam ! The word Hero has been used by the politicals for sometime now along with their smoke and mirrors schemes ! So what did this man do to be called this word Hero ! He got married and maybe has a child or one on the way . He left a job for 3.5 millon dollars and his wife and child to join the Army ! He got killed ! His wife and child may now get 10,000 dollars to bury him with ! I hope she can get a good job now that he is a Dead Hero ! Because that word Hero won't buy you a cup of coffee for very long ! JAGG

JAGG,I personally didnt refer to him as a "hero",my own reference was in respect to what the general public calls one who was in his position prior to the service..
And you are right,he isnt anymore of a hero than anyone else who is there or anywhere else who has put their life in harm's way.
The press put him in that position,as they did Jessica Lynch,who,we later find out isnt the "hero" she was made out to be at the start.
They are all heroes in my book as well as anyone who has ever put their "Time In"...
For everyone we hear about,there are a thousand or more over,that we never hear about...

A R ! I am not picking on you or anyone on this forum or over seas ! But Jessica Lynch didn't declare herself a Hero either ! So who did ? The people who need more young blood to fight for 500 oil wells thats who ! You will notice that when 2 to 3 millon people in Africa not to long ago were being hacked to death that the US didn't lift a hand ! Why ? No Oil or money to be had there ! In the Sudan a millon or so christains are being killed by that Government raped and or sold into slavery ! U.S. gets along good with them too ! So it seems that if those poor people in the world who want Democracy type help from UNCLE SAM any time soon , then they better have something of value in their country ! Now i maybe totally wrong about this ! But there was OIL off the coast of South Viet-Nam and now thanks to Bill Clinton the OIL CO.'s got the rights to drill for it all ! So whats in Kosivo ? I don't remember but Hitler fought hard to get that area of ground ! History is something you can remember or HERO's will have to repeat ! JAGG

JAGG,no offense taken,was just reclarifying my statements.
I have said since day one that Iraq is about control of oil fields,not WMD.
The world has surpassed the half way mark of getting oil out that is economically feasible to get..
More nations need oil,consumption and demand are up,and supply is steadily diminishing...So as oil supply decreases,prices go up..
Control of oil fields is in our economic interests (as well as everyone elses)..
Without oil,we wud shut down as a nation virtually overnite.

Guys,
We respect everyone's opinions about the war in Iraq, and don't mean to offend anyone, but let's please keep this about the soldier this topic was posted for.

I think you will find that many of the members here at Beartooth support the President and the nation's efforts in Iraq, while many do not. We have tried to keep a policy here at Beartooth to keep the political topics to minimum, yet this topic is very important and dear to us all.

We would like to ask you to please not continue to pull this discussion into the pros and cons of our current administration's foreign policy. This topic was posted out of respect for one of nation's finest that has fallen. Please respect that.

Perhaps you guys have read this by now, but according to the ONLY "newspaper" in the area, SP4 Tillman died 22 April as a result of hostile rifle fire while leading his team away from their pinned down vehicles. His team was engaging the enemy positions located on higher ground when he was hit. He has been posthumously awarded the Silver Star and promoted to Corporal.
Corporal Tillman's family will will be presented the medal by menbers of his other "family", the 75th Ranger Batt.,of Ft. Lewis,Wa. This will take place tomorrow, 3 May, in San Jose Ca.
He will be remembered as a true hero, and an inspiration for those that follow in his footsteps. :(

I think that something was wrong with the newspaper's story regarding Pat Tillman's death. It was stated that he was a Specialist, which would assign him the rank of E-4. If he is to be posthumously "promoted" to Corporal, wouldn't that mean a reduction in rank? Cpl is E-3. At least it was way back when during my service years.

In my "brown boot" Army days, there were two classes of Private (E-1 and E-2), a Private First Class (one stripper) was E-3, a Specialist 4th or a Corporal was E-4, and a buck Sargeant (3 stripper) was E-5, etc.

Maybe things have changed is the last 50 years!

To this day has anybody herd an comparison drawn between what Casius Clay did and what Mr. Pat Tillman did ?????????? I wonder why not ???? -----pruhdlr

You are correct, kdub. I seem to have lost track of such things after 40 odd years. ;)

Exactly correct Kbub. The difference between a SPC (SP4) and Corporal is that the Corporal is a hard stripe NCO, and permitted to issue orders. E-4/ SPC's, also known as full bird privates, are paid the same as CPLs, but are not permitted to issue orders on thier own merits.

Sorry about Tillman, he was a stand up guy, uncommon in this man's volunteer army. We lost another kid about a week ago, a young LT that I trained and opertated with, who really was doing the do when he sacrificed it all.

Good luck Fellows.

Steve