Posted on 04/23/2004 7:10:38 AM PDT by jtminton
Edited on 04/23/2004 7:24:22 AM PDT by Lead Moderator. [history]
Ex NFL Cardinal Pat Tillman has been killed in Afghanistan. Details unknown.
Because He sees the eternal; and the forty, or sixty, or eighty, years a life is cut short in this world, is less then a blink of an eye to Him, in that other World.
Of course, that is of little immediate comfort to those of us who lose loved ones. Even if we believe a loved one has gone to a better place, we can still miss them.
As for Ted Kennedy, as others have alluded, just because salvation is a result of grace even God would want to put off the arrival of Ted as long as possible. (This could be at the request of his – Ted’s – brothers; who also left us early.)
Sua Sponte
RLTW
He wrote home a week before he was killed, that although he missed his family terribly, he knew that what he was doing in Iraq was his purpose.
His life was no less heroic than Tillman's life. I'm really torn about this. Tillman was obviously someone with great character, but it's the special recognition of him b/c he was a sports celebrity that doesn't sit well with me.
I genuinely hope this helps.
You're right in that Tillman's life means no more than any other person that's paid the ultimate price in serving this great nation, including my grandfather's, nor mine if I had died during my tour of duty in the USN.
But the manner in which he served deserves recognition.
This man gave up the lifelong dream of playing in the NFL, and a $3,000,000 contract, to serve. He called no attention to this act of seflessness, he declined interviews or special attention.
He was that kind of person, and I admire him greatly.
Remembering Pat Tillman: Strong-willed and humble, former Cardinals star was indescribably rare
That ain't the real world however, Pat is a real hero, and a role model. I used to see him out and about in downtown Tempe when he was a student, and a Cardinal, always a good guy. I've carried a huge lump in my throat all day, and I've been in a morose mood.
I am proud of him, and I think he is a refutation to the 'hate America first' crowd that views our military as bad guys. They don't deserve to share the same species as Pat Tillman.
Rest in peace man, you are a better man than I will ever be, and I am eternally grateful.
Reuters report: "The U.S. military in the Afghan capital, Kabul, said on Friday that a soldier was killed and two wounded in a firefight near the village of Sperah southwest of Khost on Thursday after a patrol was ambushed. But it did not identify the dead soldier."Sperah (native spelling: Speyrah) is located 40 km (25 mi) WSW 248º from Khost (native spelling: Khowst). Distances are denoted are direct, and are not road mileage.
On Map #1, below, Khowst is located in the center, Peshawar, Pakistan is in the upper right corner (barely), and Wana, the center of the recent Wana campaign, is on the center/south edge of the map. Speyrah is located (but not shown) along the red road WSW of Khowst on this map.
On Map #2, Speyrah can be found along that same road, WSW of Khowst (look for a very small town spelled "Spera").
Map #1...
Map #2...
There is an excellent thread, posted by FReeper "neverdem", describing the exploits of the units and soldiers assigned to this exact area where Pat Tillman was killed, complete with photos and maps. You might want to check it out, as it may even contain a photo of Pat Tillman in the field. Here is the link to that thread... G.I.'s in Afghanistan on Hunt, but Now for Hearts and Minds
--Boot Hill
These young men and women have been statistics, numbers and fodder for political manipulation. The Pat Tillman story puts a face on the valor and sacrifice, and that is a good thing for those of us who are the recipients of the courage with which the men and women of our Armed Forces protect our lives, nation and destiny every minute and hour of every day.
Heard on the radio here in AZ that the flags at ASU are at half staff, the Cardinals are planning to paint the 40 yard line (Tillman's old number), Red White and Blue for the season this fall.
The greatness of Pat Tillman can be measured in the choices he had in front of him and what he sacrificed to live according to his convictions.
He walked away from a career that amounted to nothing less than a fortune in wealth and the adoration of millions of football fans. Most of us currently serving or who have in years past didn't have those kind of options before us.
It is a measure of the man's convictions that he give this up willingly to serve his country in time of war.
It is indicative of his character that he clearly saw what a priviliged life he led in this country, and that such opportunities would not be available to him anywhere else in the world. And that the country who gave him the rich life with which he was blessed was worth defending.
It speaks to his commitment that he approached basic, infantry, airborne and ranger training with the same sober-minded commitment that he brought to everything else that he achieved in his all too brief life.
In about six weeks, I'll be traveling to Normandy to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Europe. I've been asked to speak before my tour group in Paris a few days after the June 6 ceremonies. Long story how that came about, not worth recounting here. The theme of that address is how God empowers certain men to greatness in this nation during times of national crisis. It was true then. And up to now, I was convinced that blessing had deserted us as a nation. Not true. Those great men are still with us. Sadly, they are few. Sadder still, we often lose them when the nation needs them most.
While driving home, I passed a demonstration. It's in a little town called Claremont, CA, near the now-infamous Claremont Colleges. This collective of leftist traitors masquerading as an institution of learning was recently in the news for the professor who trashed her own car, painted it with racial epithets and charged some imaginary assailants with a fictitious hate crime.
Passing one of the main intersections, there were the obligatory DEATH TO GEORGE BUSH posters. Along with BUSH LIES, A CHILD DIES. But the one that made me furious was an enlarged photo of Pat Tillman -- could miss it, he was in his Arizona Cardinals uniform -- with the slogan underneath ANOTHER NAZI BITES THE DUST.
I'm licensed to carry. I was so furious I pulled over and was reaching for my Glock 30. It wasn't there. And it's God's mercy it wasn't. Not good for me to be that angry and armed at the same time. Thankfully, I wasn't.
Pat Tillman died to protect that kind of scum. And that's the most galling element of the whole tragedy.
Doug -- corner of Indian Hill and Arrow Highway in Claremont, if you want to check it out for yourself. I passed by there about a half hour ago. They looked like they were going to be there a while.
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