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Ten years after his death, Pat Tillman's spirit lives on in a military scholar program
Contra Costa Times ^ | April 18, 2014 | by Mark Emmons

Posted on 04/19/2014 7:56:21 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

Ten years after the death of Pat Tillman in a remote Afghanistan pass, monuments to his memory are everywhere.

A stone marker in San Jose's community of New Almaden. An 8-foot statue in Glendale, Ariz. The Pat Tillman Stadium at Leland High School and the Tillman Tunnel that Arizona State football players run through.

But the most fitting tributes to an admired man are not found in concrete and bronze. They are living legacies of flesh, blood and passion -- the Tillman Military Scholars.

Nearly 300 active-duty service members, veterans and spouses inspired by Tillman's story have received college scholarships with the hope they will create a ripple effect that makes the world a bit better.

"We don't know what Pat would have done if he had lived, but I imagine he would have continued to serve for the rest of his life," said Adrian Kinsella, a Marine captain who attends the UC Berkeley School of Law. "That's what all of the Tillman scholars feel like we have to do. Every day I ask: 'Am I living up to Pat's ideal?' "

(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: pattillman; tillman

1 posted on 04/19/2014 7:56:21 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I believe, that when Pat reported to his heavenly Commander, he was told Well Done. Your new assignment is to embolden the spirits of those on earth to live up to the spirit that you held.
2 posted on 04/19/2014 8:07:21 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Didn`t he recklessly run into the middle of a firefight and got shot?

Harem-scarum or hero ?


3 posted on 04/19/2014 8:44:32 AM PDT by Para-Ord.45 (Americans, happy in tutelage by the reflection that they have chosen their own dictators.)
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To: Para-Ord.45

“recklessly”?

Running to a firefight is what a warrior does.

What some may call ‘reckless’ others may characterize as “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. . “

At any rate, he did NOT act recklessly. Wrong place at the wrong time.

Details of what happened will be found here (page 10 of 85, pages 68/69): http://www.defense.gov/home/pdf/tillman_redacted_web_0307.pdf

You can plainly see, he did nothing reckless.


4 posted on 04/19/2014 9:22:45 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: Para-Ord.45

Mark Madden, a local sports talk guy, mentioned something about Tillman a couple of months ago. Madden, who broke the Penn State story and the Dolphins story before anybody else, claims that Tillman wanted to kill and joining the military was his way of fulfilling that fantasy. Madden claims that Tillman is not the hero many would claim. It’s a pretty huge claim to make to be untrue, but . . . I don’t know.


5 posted on 04/19/2014 11:14:51 AM PDT by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: goodwithagun

I would imagine that quite a few men who joined the military after 9/11 did so because they wanted to kill some radical Muslims. But, as to your comment, Pat Tillman isn’t here to defend himself, so I don’t see why you would see fit to mention this. He went and (voluntarily) did some very dirty work for this country, and for our way of life. Lost his life doing it, in fact. If that’s not a hero, I don’t know what is.


6 posted on 04/20/2014 2:05:25 PM PDT by BearArms
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To: BearArms

I don’t know the truth any more than you do; however, the source makes a very bold claim considering the situation. I try to remember that unfortunately there are bad people in every profession. Is Tillman one of those? Again I don’t know, but the claim interested me.


7 posted on 04/20/2014 4:34:49 PM PDT by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: BearArms

I think I’ll call the show sometime over summer break and ask Madden about it. If I do, I’ll post a link to the conversation.


8 posted on 04/20/2014 4:36:34 PM PDT by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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