In May of 2002 a young man, at the age of 25, made a
shocking career decision. That decision
was to enlist in the U.S. Army and then join the Army Rangers. This individual was a healthy, strong,
red-blooded American who, like many other Americans at the time, felt compelled
to take action in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. That a man in such a situation would choose
to enlist in the U.S. Army would not normally be shocking. What made this particular career decision so
remarkable was that it cost $3.6 million dollars to make it.
The young man who made that choice was Patrick Daniel
Tillman, star safety for the Arizona Cardinals.
Tillman at ASU |
In May 2002, Arizona offered him a 3-year, $3.6 million
contract. Pat, who had once said no to a
lucrative contract from the St. Louis Rams so he could stay with Cardinals, turned
down the offer. On May 31st, he enlisted
in the Army. His brother, Kevin, himself
a promising athlete who had already signed a contract with the Cleveland
Indians, also enlisted and the two completed basic training together. After serving in the initial invasion of Iraq
in September 2003, Pat Tillman graduated from Ranger School and was redeployed
to Afghanistan as an Army Ranger.
On April 22, 2004, Tillman’s platoon was moving through a
desert canyon in two separate groups, forced to separate when one of their
Humvees broke down. After Tillman’s
group passed through the canyon, the trailing half of the platoon came under
heavy fire in an enemy ambush. Tillman’s
group doubled back on foot, taking a higher position from which to provide
cover fire for their comrades.
Unfortunately, as they attempted to relay a “friendly” signal to the troops
in the canyon, the lead vehicle of the cornered platoon opened fire on their position. Pat Tillman and an Afghan militia soldier
were fatally wounded, victims of friendly fire.
Death in combat by so-called “friendly fire” is a hazard as
old as combat itself. In the frenzy of
battle, adrenaline, instinct and even fear sharpen the soldiers’ senses. However, they can also cloud those senses,
making it impossible to distinguish between friendly and hostile
combatants. Perishing under such
circumstances, however, should in no way minimize the sacrifice of the fallen
soldier, and such individuals still deserve the honors bestowed on those who
fall in combat at the hands of the enemy.
This is particularly so in Tillman’s case, as the friendly fire was in
response to an engagement initiated by enemy forces.
Unfortunately, Pat Tillman’s sacrifice was tarnished by the
ensuing cover-up involving members of his own platoon and the Army Special
Operations Command, which initially reported Tillman’s death the result of
hostile fire. An investigation conducted
by Brigadier General Gary M. Jones revealed that Army investigators and senior
commanders were aware of the true facts of Tillman’s death shortly after the skirmish,
but still approved the Silver Star and Purple Heart commendations for Tillman
while citing his heroic actions “in the line of devastating enemy fire.” The next day after approving the awards, Lieutenant
General Stanley McChrystal sent a confidential memo to senior government
officials warning that Tillman’s death may have actually been the result of
friendly fire.
The timing of outside events may explain the Army’s desire
to paint the circumstances of Tillman’s death in a certain light. On April 28, 2004, the day Tillman’s Silver
Star was approved, CBS news broke the scandal of prisoner abuse at the Abu
Ghraib prison in Iraq. The Silver Star
was awarded to Tillman on the 30th and a nationally televised memorial service
for him took place on May 3rd. Without
excusing their reprehensible actions, it is apparent that correcting the
public’s understanding of what happened to Pat Tillman in the midst of the
publicity nightmare of Abu Ghraib would have been embarrassing—to say the
least—for the Army and the entire U.S. military.
Tillman's mother (center) and brother testifying before Congress |
Despite the controversy surrounding Pat Tillman’s death, and
his personal stance concerning the war in Iraq, his personal sacrifice
resonated with many, and he is no less deserving of the countless tributes that
have been made to his memory. One legacy
that he leaves behind is the Pat Tillman Foundation, which was started by his
friends and family after his death. The
mission of the Foundation is to support military veterans and military spouses
through education and community. To
date, the Foundation has awarded 171 scholarships totaling over $2 million. Click here
to learn more about this special organization.
Several articles and books have been written about Pat Tillman's story, but two stand out: Boots on the Ground by Dusk, written by his mother, Mary Tillman, and Where Men Win Glory, written by Jon Krakauer. You'll find links to purchase these books in the left sidebar.
Several articles and books have been written about Pat Tillman's story, but two stand out: Boots on the Ground by Dusk, written by his mother, Mary Tillman, and Where Men Win Glory, written by Jon Krakauer. You'll find links to purchase these books in the left sidebar.
Pat Tillman was the first NFL player to die in action since
the Vietnam War. Two players perished in
that conflict and several more died in World War II. To learn more about these gridiron warriors
who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, click here to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s page noting
their service.
As you grill your hamburgers and hot dogs today, I
hope you will take a few moments to pause and remember these individuals, and
the countless others, who have given literally all they could to ensure our
freedom.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day!
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