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Anybody wonder what the definition of a true hero is? Support or don't support the war, you better respect the heart and soul of this man? He sacrificed no less then everyone over there, but his story sure stands as a reminder.
In the Line of Duty
U.S. Army Ranger and Ex-NFL Player Pat Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
April 23 — Pat Tillman, a former NFL player who swapped a glamorous football career to enlist in the U.S. Army, has been killed in action in Afghanistan, ABCNEWS has learned.
The 27-year-old former football player was killed in direct action during a firefight in Afghanistan, Pentagon sources told ABCNEWS. But there were no further details available.
A former member of the Arizona Cardinals, Tillman, along with his brother Kevin, enrolled with the U.S. Army Rangers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Last year, the brothers were awarded an Arthur Ashe Courage Award meant for individuals whose contributions transcend sports. The award was accepted by their younger brother, Richard, while the brothers were away.
Tillman, an unrestricted free agent, spurned a $9 million, five-year offer sheet from the St. Louis Rams in 2001 to join the Army. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Tillman was an exceptional student with a 3.84 grade point average through college and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in marketing.
The Tillman family has been notified, according to a Pentagon source
I just read that story too in the local paper. I never heard of this guy...........how sad is that that we never here about these guys............but it sounds like he wanted it that way. He is the definition of we should be as men. For any young guys out there............this guy is what you want to be like when you grow up. His family must be sad, but can you imagine the pride they must have in their hearts.
In today's world of overpaid, spoiled, self-absorbed professional athletes it gives hope that there are still those who have principals and are truly selfless. Pat Tillman was one of those individuals. My heart goes out to his family and to all the other's who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
I hear what you are saying BW, but I have to disagree in some respects. This was sent to me by a friend, and while I know the media will cover this big, it does not take a way from the significance. I do hold his loss up as any greater then any other life, but his convictions, his willingness to walk away from his life to serve should be a lesson to us all. He is no better then the other heros, but the extremes of his story might cause others to reflect on the sacrifices made by lots of folks.
I don't want to turn this into a political ragefest, but who is squashing coverage of our fallen heros? is it the press or is it the pentagon. Are we so fragile a citizenry that we need to be shielded from pictures of coffins? I am a little sick of being managed andd messaged by spin doctors. Is it any wonder we might roll our eyes when the wmd's disappear?
Is collin powell now a traitor too? Or maybe has he actually seen the coffins? Maybe this informs his views on going to war with blinders on.
Bottom line is, this was the kind of guy we all want for a neighbor, this should be the kind of guy we want to be. there are tens of thousands of him over there right now. His story should remind us to be the citizens this country needs. Lets not just tell our youth to be like him, lets tell ouselves.
All our troops are hero's in my eyes. I have a niece over*there driving a semi truck for the Abrams(sp) tanks. She joined to get her college education and got sent over . She is scared but doing her job like all the rest are. She sends emails every so often right from truck. Cool!
Aggree or dis-agree with the war we all need to support our troops while they are there. 100%
Pat Tillman.......I wish I had half of his cahoneys.
SIM
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I have to agree that this man went way out of the way to serve his country. All he had to do way to sign he papers and he was a Million dollar man . Be he singed up with the army to sevre his country in Afghanistan with his brother. The man is a true hero . A older friend of mine told me a story about what his grandfather said to him. When John was a kid he told his grandfather about his sports HERO. Take in mind that this man served in WWll. He told John that he knows nothing about what A hero was and drove him to a vets cemetery and Told him Theres the only Heros in this world boy they are in there and they are all dead. I will never be a hero becouse I made it out alive and all those men didnt. So from that day on I have never used the word hero except for the men who gave it all for there country. God Bless All Those Men And Woman How Gave It All
There are millions of people who prove themselves to be a hero to someone everyday. Entertainers of all types, while they may be fine people in their own right, are no better and no worse than the guy who picks up my garbage in the morning. Unfortunately, most Americans believe that because someone can throw or catch a ball, or act, etc. they are somehow worthy of more adoration than the rest of us. These people live lives that most of us can't even imagine. That is their reward. Stop idolizing someone because they have a talent that you don't.
What is really sad...... the "MEDIA" puts him up on a pedestal because he was famous!!!!!
The MEDIA has virtually overlooked THE FAMILIES and LIVES OF HUNDRED's of OTHER HERO's THAT HAVE DIED FOR US !!!!
God Bless America!!!!
Thank you BW.. If you didn't say it, I would have..
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
There are millions of people who prove themselves to be a hero to someone everyday. Entertainers of all types, while they may be fine people in their own right, are no better and no worse than the guy who picks up my garbage in the morning. Unfortunately, most Americans believe that because someone can throw or catch a ball, or act, etc. they are somehow worthy of more adoration than the rest of us. These people live lives that most of us can't even imagine. That is their reward. Stop idolizing someone because they have a talent that you don't.
No one here is disparaging the service of any of the hero's that are over fighting this war. And no one is unduly idolizing this man. What is significant here is that this man had a choice of instant millionaire for playing a game or serve his country for a for a smaller salary. He chose to serve his country. Could you say that you would have turned down the opportunity to be a millionaire and have a life of relative luxury$ Would you have instead chosen the life of a combat warrior? This is a unique story and yes, Mr. Tillman is an unusual hero. Thank you for your service! We owe all a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice!
I think the issue here is not the millions and opportunities, but the old Honor, Duty and Country he and many others posess as an individual. As an American in the Armed Forces, Honor, Duty and Country words that seem to be losing their meaning...
Our grandparents knew exactly what those three words meant! Then, there were many in our parents generation that THOUGHT they knew what it meant (no offense intended) and with 9/11, there is a renewed sense of nationalism.
I have the utmost of respect for Mr. Tillman, he died fighting for what he believed in. I don't believe in Football and obviously he didn't either. A sport is not something you should believe in. Now God, Country, family, friends, neighbors and the like - that's something we should all believe in and your damn right it's worth dying for!
There are those that like to watch and there are those that get up off their butt and do what needs to be done. I think we all know which category he fell into.
We should all ask ourselves which category we fall into..
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
Duty, Honor, Country are worthy goals indeed. There are many of us on this forum that lived by those standards for more than 20 years. And many of us that experienced first hand what combat entails. And there are many that are still walking in the footsteps of those that went before them and doing a great job. Mr. Tilman made an honorable choice for sure.
True Hero -Pat Tillman 
