How he was different (Tillman Editorial

Pat Tillman, like many other Americans in the military, sacrificed a better life in America for a chance to serve and make a difference in others' lives. He felt his place was with the U.S. Army Rangers.

Unlike many others, Tillman had fame and fortune. He played football in college at Arizona State University. And Arizona fans continued to know him on the football field when he played in the National Football League with the Arizona Cardinals.

But nearly two years ago, Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract to become an Army Ranger and play a part in the war on terrorism.

On Friday, we learned he was killed in action in Afghanistan. The group he was with was ambushed.

A soldier's death has become far too commonplace in the past year as U.S. forces have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

What is different about Tillman's story is that he turned down a dream job to many - playing professional football - and gave it up for service to his country.

For that reason, the attention he received seems above and beyond what other military personnel who have died in action have been given.

But what we shouldn't forget is that Tillman didn't seek this attention. He likely would have wanted us to treat him just as the others who have served and died.

After joining the military, Tillman didn't talk publicly about his decision. Requests to interview him were denied. He went about being a soldier, not a public figure.

It is for this that we believe Tillman leaves his greatest mark. He was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things. He knew that he wasn't greater than his fellow man. He was simply a man willing to sacrifice for us all.

TO: United States Marines April 2, 2004
Pentagon War Department
1400 Pentagon
Washington D.C. 20350

Dear Sir:

I am 58 years old, and still young enough to fight for our country. I am a twelfth generation of patriot, whose family lead the American Revolution fight, and battle of the wilderness forward. I am a retired corporate executive with many successes in life ready to serve the principles my family and founders fought for in the constitution and Bill of Rights. .

I help rebuild Kuwait after Gulf War, I and am ready to provide Sniper service, and with this letter I volunteer my services. The only thing I need is food once a week, ammo( I prefer 308 118 grain handloads), a knapsack that can double for rifle rest, and bedroll. We ask for normal pay, and only the opportunity to service in this worthy cause in Iraq.

My experiences.
I have excellent vision, a steady hand, excellent sniper skills, and wind age skills. You see we are Prairie dog hunters. Field ranges 200 to 1000 yards; with high winds is normal day. In the off season we frequent the shooting ranges monthly, in all weather conditions, can handle winds and can follow orders we hear.
I am willing to enlist today and help my country track down those responsible for killing thousands of innocent American’s in New York City and Washington, D.C. and to allow freedom to develop in Iraq. But I hope you don’t tell me I too old to track down terrorists. Presently, the recruiter tells me I can’t be older than 35 to join. They've got the whole thing ass backwards. Instead of sending 18-year-olds off the fight, they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn't be able to join until you're at least 35. For starters:
* Young guys haven't lived long enough to be cranky and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. If we can't kill the enemy we'll complain them into submission. "My back hurts!" "I'm hungry!" "Where's the remote control?"
* An 18-year-old hasn't had a legal beer yet and you shouldn't go to war until you're at least old enough to legally drink. An average old guy, on the other hand, has consumed 126,000 gallons of beer by the time he's 35 and a jaunt through the desert heat with a backpack and M-60 would do wonders for the beer belly.
* An 18-year-old doesn't like to get up before 10 a.m. Old guys get up early just to show we can (and to steal the neighbor's newspaper).
* If old guys were captured we couldn't spill the beans because we'd probably forget where we put them. In fact, name, rank and serial number would be a real brainteaser.
I request you invalidate this 35-age barrier for my fellow patriots (prairie dog shooters). According to the Army Internet site, I'd need to pass an entrance exam (officially called an ASVAB), but the sample questions I saw weren't exactly headache material. Our gear is always packed, as we are regular visitors to the range. We love to spend hours sitting on the range by ourselves stopping appropriate targets that move.

You can reach me at

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