NFL'er who quit to join Rangers KIA (Pat Tillman) -- merged thread

Some people say "why is he more heroic than all the others?"

I think that misses the point entirely. It's not about him being more heroic, it's about someone stepping down from the highest place in society to do one of the most dangerous, unglamorous, thankless jobs for no other reason than that he loved his country.

What he is is a better example to the world of the kind of people Americans are.

A lot of liberals are talking smack about how our soldiers are the poor and the disadvantaged and the middle class kids who just wanted to go to college.

I think Tillman pretty much made all of those statements moot.

Teh implication, of course, is that nobody in their right mind, with the opportunity to do something "better" would still choose to go fight in this war.

I am sure the regular guys in the war do not appreciate the implication that they are there because they got "stuck" in life or "didn't have anything better to do".

Tillman showed the world that there are still people in America who have everything the world has to offer, but are willing to lay it all down at the altar of freedom.

Dude had nutsack.

Seriously, that guy had it hangin'


Old Warrior style.


God bless him, and his family.

His life is no more important then any others that have lost theirs.

They are ALL true American heros. Let's not forget the sacrifice they are ALL making.




9/11 All gave some. Some gave all.

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No one is suggesting that his life was more important than any of the others who have died. His circumstances are what make him different. He volunteered in war time knowing that he would be going to combat. He walked away from a successful career and a pile of money. With the "Me First" attitude in this country, what Tillman did was exceptional. Especially in regards to professional athletes. That is why people are making a big deal out of it.

I dont think that most people would give up what he did to go and do what he did. He is a true american like so many others that fight over there every day.

RIP

A Warrior has fallen and we are all sad for the loss but his sacrafice to Duty,Honor and Country will be an insperation to others.I hope....
What gets me about this is that in this day and age his actions are so remarkable.During WW2 many sports and movie stars dropped their careers and went to serve.Many in combat units.These days that attitude has been less prevelant with the whole "me first" generation.

KIA?
Pat Tillman's immortal now.

Gifted, blessed, unselfish, principled and brave...
If America has indeed more like him,
America's enemies need to start thinking real hard
about who they've picked a fight with.

What everybody else said

Brings into stark relief the selfishness of most other professional athletes and musicians.

Somehow I don't see Nelly, 50 cent, or Shaq rushing away from there fairy tale lives to do anything for this country.

This guy gave it all....

When I heard the news in my office today, a tear rolled down my face.

I don't think so much for Pat's death, but for realizing the trivial complaints I spout everyday and how insignificant they are in reality to what Pat and others have given up who are in harm's way.

I know life goes on, but this will remind me more to stop and pray for those who have chosen to give all.

God bless them all.

He is a true hero. It's people like him that make this country great. How many other millionaires gave it all up to serve their country? I just wish there were more like him.

Re-enlistment is at 100% of the goal. There are currently 135,000 heros over there now. These volunteers, for the most part, have the same grit and determination as did Pat. He is a shining example because of what he gave up to go, but he is still just one example of many committed troops. In the end he gave the ultimate sacrifice.

On a personal level I think he was the picture of what an American should be. He fought hard and earned every position. He received THE last scholarship at Arizona State. It was predicted that he would not make the team.

He did. The coach offered to "red shirt" him so that he could play beyond the 4 year limit. He refused stating that he had things to do. He graduated in 3.5 years.

He was drafted well down the list, near the bottom, but was not deterred. Again, it was predicted that he would not make the Cardinal team.

But he did. And ended up starting in a position for ehich he was "too slow." He garnered a $3.6M contract offer from the Cardinals, and an offer of $9M from the Rams. He said "no thanks" to the Rams because he was LOYAL to his team.

Then came 9/11. His brother joined the Army intent on being a Ranger. Being a Ranger is not contractual: you have to earn it. Otherwise you wash out back to 11B (infantry).

Pat decided that if America was attacked, then he was attacked. He resigned from the NFL and enlisted. He refused a commission. Therefore, he was a grunt. He asked the press to leave him alone and refused any special treatment.

He also earned the privelege of becoming a Ranger. He was either allowed to, or by luck was, put in the same unit as his brother (75th Rangers). They went to Afghanistan to fulfill their role in the WOT.



Never, never, never quit. Work hard. Be loyal. Follow your heart. Succeed. That is his legacy.

If every American followed this example and accomplished 60% of his legacy, we would be an unstoppable force for good.

RIP Pat,my prayers go out to your family and friends and to all the brave men and women serving in the armed forces.

I don’t want to say anything to detract in any way the sacrifice he made… I salute the man.

That being said, why is it that "we" make such a big deal about his leaving behind millions of dollars?
He left his FAMILY! That’s enough to make him a hero. There are men serving our country who have left their own children to fight for our future. I don’t know mush about having lots of money but I am very rich in having an adoring and loving daughter…it chokes me up when I think about all the daddy's going off to war…they are real heroes.

and one other thing Andy Rooney is a A@# clown.

mephisto,

and one other thing Andy Rooney is a A@# clown.

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Yeah, that's what the B-17 gunners who he flew with over the Ruhr as a correspondent said.

Hey, mephisto, when you've sucked O2 in an unpressurized aluminum tube at angels three-zero while being shot at by one-oh-nines and 88's, then you get to call anyone you want an "A@# clown", okay?

I will mourn the loss of an uncommon American. It encourages me that men like Ranger Tillman are out there. You don't hear much about them, they don't bitch and moan on television, but serve with honor and quiet distinction. It shames me that it takes something like this to bring them to mind. I pray all his brothers in Afghanistan are permitted to hunt down his killers.


David

He was a living example of the Ranger Creed. (*underlined sections are points emphasized by me.)

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers.

Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldier.

Never shall I fail my comrades I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some.

Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress, and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.

Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.

Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor.

HOOAHH!!! You led the way, Ranger Tillman!

His Life

His Fortune

His Sacred Honor

He gave it all

God rest his soul

During WW2 many sports and movie stars dropped their careers and went to serve.

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Difference is that some significant minority of our population (20%? 30%?) does not believe the War on Terror is necessary at all, especially the Iraq part.

Absent national unity, we are not going to see WWII like enlistments. The fact that we can still meet recruitment goals is good, though I am worried that our armed forces are only 1/2 the size they were 10 years ago.

nice photoset from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/3654879.stm

Service to our great nation.

7.62FMJ & Thumper - Great Tributes - Thanks.

We are diminished.

12-34hom.

Pat Tillman was the living example of what Napoleon said, "Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily".
Pat Tillman died in glory and few are as lucky.
Right now he is enjoying the company of the Valkyries in Valhalla.

What can I do?
Is there a fund set up for this RANGERS' family?
I - have no words for how I feel.
EDIT:
Yes - yes I do have words for how I feel..
I feel guilty somehow. I sit here - I feel pride for this man and his family and for his comrades.. his fellow Rangers. I feel pride for America. This man, his service lifted her up. I - - should do more. I will do more. This man and his fellow Rangers are a rare and precious breed. Thank you dearly to the US armed forces that came before - and will come after - for my life of relative tranquility. I know they would not want me to feel guilty .. such is their selflessness. God Bless him.

Tamara-
I was not referring to his WWII flying service but to his remarks from a few short weeks ago. I would never slur anyone who has served our country in regards to there service. But this is bile.
Our Soldiers in Iraq Aren't Heroes
[4/12/2004

By ANDY ROONEY
Most of the reporting from Iraq is about death and destruction. We don't learn much about what our soldiers in Iraq are thinking or doing. There's no Ernie Pyle to tell us, and, if there were, the military would make it difficult or impossible for him to let us know.
It would be interesting to have a reporter ask a group of our soldiers in Iraq to answer five questions and see the results:
1. Do you think your country did the right thing sending you into Iraq?
2. Are you doing what America set out to do to make Iraq a democracy, or have we failed so badly that we should pack up and get out before more of you are killed?
3. Do the orders you get handed down from one headquarters to another, all far removed from the fighting, seem sensible, or do you think our highest command is out of touch with the reality of your situation?
4. If you could have a medal or a trip home, which would you take?
5. Are you encouraged by all the talk back home about how brave you are and how everyone supports you?
Treating soldiers fighting their war as brave heroes is an old civilian trick designed to keep the soldiers at it. But you can be sure our soldiers in Iraq are not all brave heroes gladly risking their lives for us sitting comfortably back here at home.
Our soldiers in Iraq are people, young men and women, and they behave like people - sometimes good and sometimes bad, sometimes brave, sometimes fearful. It's disingenuous of the rest of us to encourage them to fight this war by idolizing them.
We pin medals on their chests to keep them going. We speak of them as if they volunteered to risk their lives to save ours, but there isn't much voluntary about what most of them have done. A relatively small number are professional soldiers. During the last few years, when millions of jobs disappeared, many young people, desperate for some income, enlisted in the Army. About 40 percent of our soldiers in Iraq enlisted in the National Guard or the Army Reserve to pick up some extra money and never thought they'd be called on to fight. They want to come home.
One indication that not all soldiers in Iraq are happy warriors is the report recently released by the Army showing that 23 of them committed suicide there last year. This is a dismaying figure. If 22 young men and one woman killed themselves because they couldn't take it, think how many more are desperately unhappy but unwilling to die.
We must support our soldiers in Iraq because it's our fault they're risking their lives there. However, we should not bestow the mantle of heroism on all of them for simply being where we sent them. Most are victims, not heroes.
America's intentions are honorable. I believe that, and we must find a way of making the rest of the world believe it. We want to do the right thing. We care about the rest of the world. President Bush's intentions were honorable when he took us into Iraq. They were not well thought out but honorable.
Bush's determination to make the evidence fit the action he took, which it does not, has made things look worse. We pay lip service to the virtues of openness and honesty, but for some reason, we too often act as though there was a better way of handling a bad situation than by being absolutely open and honest.]

I'm truly sorry he died but he was doing what he wanted. They are all heroes and they all walked away from something meaningful to them - so what if he turned his back against millions; Why does the money factor keep coming up? Good for him. But remember those who we have lost have all sacrificed because they were obviously reared with character and integrity! A Leatherness Hoorah!

RIP to all of our war heroes ...

Here is a link to a good salute to honor ALL of the fallen.

http://www.independentbias.com/honor_of_fallen.htm

My prayers are with all families and friends that have suffered a loss ...

peace be with you