Pat Tillman killed in Afghanistan

MSNBC ^ | 04/23/2004

[jtminton]

Ex NFL Cardinal Pat Tillman has been killed in Afghanistan. Details unknown.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I think the Pentagon and team are backing off and letting his family take care of things.

He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war.
He stands tough, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this...

I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it. I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains.

I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues, because it might be bad for business.

I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.

It's the soldier not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the press.

It's the soldier not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech.

It's the soldier not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate.

It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!!!

[conservonator]

Prayers for him and his.

[big'ol_freeper]

Sad news *ping*

[b4its2late]

Ex-NFL player Tillman killed in Afghanistan

Former Cardinal gave up big salary to join Army Rangers

BREAKING NEWS

NBCSports.com news services

Updated: 10:35 a.m. ET April  23, 2004

Pat Tillman, who gave up a lucrative NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals to join the Army Rangers, has been killed in Afghanistan, NBC News is reporting.

In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Tillman decided to turn down a three-year, $3.6 million contract with the Cardinals to enlist in the Army.

Tillman, who went through Special Forces training to become a Ranger, was first deployed to Iraq in March 2003 with the 75th Regiment Ranger Battalion.

Tillman joined the Army with his younger brother Kevin in May 2002, but Pat Tillman denied requests for media coverage of his enlistment, basic training and ultimate deployments. According to Army officials at the time, Tillman wanted no special treatment, wanted no special attention, but wanted to be considered just one of the soldiers doing his duty for his country.

[MNlurker]

I was just thinking about him the other day...this one hurts. I'm 30 years old with a job and this guy gives up a much more comfortable life to serve this country.

I have to admit I'm a little embarrassed for myself...I feel useless.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Contrast this fine soldier's life with that of Richard Geer who sits in his Hollywood mansion pontificating about the moral failures of "Christian fundamentalists" like President Bush and others. Remember this the next time you're tempted to watch a movie featuring Geer or any of his ilk.

[WestPoint90]

And I would not compare it to Tillman's. Tillman was a throwback to the days of WWII when men wanted to go fight. Men of honor, character and integrity. The idiot kids on MTV's TRL and would be Nader/Kerry voters have a lot to learn.

[Finalapproach29er]

GWB should make an exception and go to his funeral.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Damn, this is sad news. I remember one of the networks had interviewed him when he was in Afghanistan when it was known he was fighting there and had passed up a player contract to fight the WOT. Rest in peace Pat.

[Mo1]

Sad news .. sending prayers for him and his family

[MEG33]

Amen.God bless our armed forces and their loved ones who wait at home.I thank them for their service to our country.

[mrbillxx]

Godspeed Pat and thank for making this world safer for my daughters.

[cmak9]

May he rest in peace in the arms of the Lord. This man was what heros are made of. The type of person that you want your children to look up to and try to immulate.

Amen to that. May the Good Lord bless and keep him.

[jtminton]

That's a great link. Boils the blood and waters the eyes.

[NCC-1701]

As an American and a Dallas Cowboys fan, I want to extend my condolences to his faimily, friends, teammates, and fans of the Arizona Cardinals. All of us have lost another TRUE hero in a world of manufactured heroes. If this report is true, may he, and all the other fallen, rest in peace.

[Norb2569]

he had the guts to serve his nation in its time of need and the balls to walk away from a well paying career in the NFL. We should never forget that and all the other guys and gals that have left behind well paying careers and families to protect us all.

You said it, Trueblackman! He was a PATRIOT, like all of them are. We are truely fortunate to have people like each and every member of our Armed Forces!

[John H K]

Actually I just found out Tillman played for Arizona State (and their stadium is also the home of the Arizona Cardinals.)

Stadium currently just has the generic name "Sun Devil Stadium" so changing it wouldn't PO some big corporation or a wealthly alumnus.

Seriously, if anyone is an AZ Freeper, start a campaign to have the stadium renamed Tillman Stadium.

[hchutch]

But they're needed - and missed - here.

[JimRed]

I have heard nothing on any missions in the news...

That means that the missions have been successful. The media here will only dwell on failure or losses.

It will be interesting to see their spin on this hero.

[faithincowboys]

I think your premise is all wrong. The truth is--his death is no different than any of the other brave soldiers that have died. I think all of them are heroes and all of them deserve the proper tribute.