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Pat Tillman killed in Afghanistan
MSNBC ^ | 04/23/2004

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Arizona; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; arizonacardinal; arizonastate; army; fallen; fightingtillmans; hero; iraq; nfl; pattillman; ranger; soldier; somegaveall; thegreatestgift; tillman
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To: Jeff Head
Amen Jeff, amen.
581 posted on 04/23/2004 3:50:48 PM PDT by amom
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To: JackDanielsOldNo7
Why does God let MEN like this die young and jackasses like Ted "the drunk" Kennedy live an eternity(on earth)?

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.)

582 posted on 04/23/2004 4:02:40 PM PDT by Friend of thunder (No sane person wants war, but oppressors want oppression.)
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To: Corporate Law
"One PHX council woman got shot it the behind (literally) after that vote!.
That wasn't for the Cardinal's stadium. It was for the Bank One Ballpark years ago. The Cardinal's stadium was one that Tempe wanted, then Phoenix challenged them on zoning. Then Mesa was going to get it, but Mesa didn't want it. Eventually it was sent over to Glendale.
583 posted on 04/23/2004 4:09:38 PM PDT by HungarianGypsy
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To: clouda

584 posted on 04/23/2004 4:11:23 PM PDT by threat matrix
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To: DuncanWaring
I am firmly convinced that liberals like MurryMom live in a delusional, alternative universe where right is wrong, up is down, good is evil and evil is good. To speak of that POS Kerry in the same breath as Pat Tillman leaves me almost speechless.
585 posted on 04/23/2004 4:12:40 PM PDT by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
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To: jtminton
RIP Ranger Tillman.

Sua Sponte

RLTW

586 posted on 04/23/2004 4:14:36 PM PDT by TADSLOS (Right Wing Infidel since 1954)
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Comment #587 Removed by Moderator

Comment #588 Removed by Moderator

To: Aggie Mama
I tend to agree with you. Our family knew the Marine that was killed a few weeks ago. I'm sure you saw his picture on Drudge--he was the one laying on the ground with all of the soldiers praying around him.

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.

589 posted on 04/23/2004 4:22:37 PM PDT by Vigilantcitizen (Rest in peace, Pat Tillman.)
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To: Aggie Mama
This is a nice piece that details Tillman's character..

Remembering Pat Tillman: Strong-willed and humble, former Cardinals star was indescribably rare

590 posted on 04/23/2004 4:26:09 PM PDT by Vigilantcitizen (Rest in peace, Pat Tillman.)
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To: Vigilantcitizen
Several people have wondered about where to send cards and letters to the family.
591 posted on 04/23/2004 4:34:58 PM PDT by Dante3
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To: jtminton
Pat was a hero to me when I watched him play at the best college game I ever attended, when my alma mater, Arizona State whipped #2 ranked Nebraska 19-0.

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.

592 posted on 04/23/2004 5:10:19 PM PDT by Central Scrutiniser (Conspiracy theorists are mentally bankrupt)
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To: Dog; Coop; Cap Huff; swarthyguy; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Dog Gone; Angelus Errare; Prodigal Son; ...
(Be sure to view link in the paragraph at the bottom!)
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...

These maps are a product of...

 

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

593 posted on 04/23/2004 5:25:21 PM PDT by Boot Hill (Candy-gram for Osama bin Mongo, candy-gram for Osama bin Mongo!!!)
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To: Vigilantcitizen
Beautifully written. I understand AggieMom's sentiments as well. But, it's not a zero sum game, and Tillman's heroic sacrifice takes nothing away from any other. He is "known", and his heroism permits a carthartic response to the honor with which these men and women live, fight ... and tragically die ... in the protection of our American freedom and way of life.

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.

594 posted on 04/23/2004 5:26:00 PM PDT by Barlowmaker
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl

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.


595 posted on 04/23/2004 5:33:38 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: jtminton
Where does this Country find men like Tillman, who are willing to sacrifice all for our freedom? And he is only one of many...

I feel a terrible grief.....
596 posted on 04/23/2004 5:39:47 PM PDT by Proangel (ASA Vet)
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To: joanie-f; doug from upland
Your post #516 is one of the most eloquent expositions on this subject I have ever read.

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.

597 posted on 04/23/2004 5:51:34 PM PDT by Euro-American Scum (A poverty-stricken middle class must be a disarmed middle class)
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To: jtminton
This one guy redeemed the Pac 10 for me. From now on, they're the Tillman 10.

What an incredible man.

(As are all our servicemen and women.)
598 posted on 04/23/2004 6:13:59 PM PDT by Joe_October (Saddam supported Terrorists. Al Qaeda are Terrorists. I can't find the link.)
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To: jtminton
I'm going to put a small picture of him in the corner of my mirror in the and leave it there for one year. When I get ready in the morning I'm gonna ask what I can do better today then yesterday.

We all could learn something from this guy.

Jeff
599 posted on 04/23/2004 6:22:01 PM PDT by math=power
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To: JackDanielsOldNo7
Very good question.
600 posted on 04/23/2004 6:22:17 PM PDT by Donna Lee Nardo (PEG by Steely Dan)
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