Tillman was killed saving comrades

New York Daily News ^ | 5/01/04 | MAKI BECKER

[kattracks]

He truly died an American hero.

Pat Tillman, the NFL-star-turned-G.I., was awarded a Silver Star yesterday for saving fellow Special Operations soldiers last month from a sneak attack by heavily armed militants in Afghanistan, the military disclosed yesterday.

As a team of Army Rangers was trapped in cavernous terrain and warding off incoming mortars and gunfire, Tillman, 27, led a team up a hill close to a position held by enemy fighters, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said.

Tillman's team had already made it out of the area but returned when an Army squad trailing them was ambushed.

"As they crested the hill, Tillman directed his team into firing positions and personally provided suppressive fire" with a machine gun to help the other unit, command officials said.

As the battle ensued, "Tillman's voice was heard issuing commands to take the fight to the enemy forces."

The firing soon stopped and the second Ranger team moved to safety - but Tillman was fatally wounded.

The medal for valor in combat honored Tillman's final act of selfless bravery. On Thursday, the Army announced Tillman had been posthumously promoted to corporal from specialist.

In keeping with Tillman's humble ways - he consistently turned down interviews about his decision to leave the Arizona Cardinals for the Army - his family has decided against holding a funeral with military honors. Instead, his widow, Marie, will be presented with a folded American flag, an Army official said. A public memorial service is planned Monday in Tillman's hometown of San Jose, Calif. Another public ceremony is set for next Saturday in Arizona.

Originally published on May 1, 2004

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

OCS would have kept Tilman out of the fight for a longer time due to added training. I believe he wanted to get into the fight as quickly as possible. Ranger qualification was the fastest route to the tip of the spear.

[bushfamfan]

Anyone hear where he'll be laid to rest?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Extreme loss.
But out of it, hopefully, his story will stir enough young men to want to mirror his image and enlist who otherwise might not have if it hadn't happened. His death may have a very lasting effect. We need more like him, for certain.

[knarf]

"The sky of Afghanistan may have been the last thing he ever saw, and it is a glorious sight, fit for a hero."

I copied and pasted this line ... I italacized it, put quotes around it and prepared to make a comment ... I started to cry.

[Northern Yankee]

I'm with you pal.

I tried getting back in but was too old to re-enlist.

I served my time, but damn... I wish I could do more.

Tillman represented the best this country has to offer.

[M Kehoe]

Bttt.

5.56mm

[neutrino]

We have lost one of the best. Our nation is poorer for his passing - but heaven is brighter.

[Feckless]

Hope I never run into one of those douche bags. I'd be tempted to deprive them of some of the rights Cpl Tillman died protecting, along with some dental work.

[Yasotay]

In the beginning there came a man to the world, a protector and savior of men. He spoke the language of many--mostly he spoke care and concern for his fellowmen. He was trained in the arts of war and killing. He was the ultimate warrior. One who stood among men not as a god or noble -- but as another man. Just a man. His exploits were far and many and many of his enemies he did kill -- always protecting his people and his land. He understood sacrifice and he offered his life to his country and its people. For him, life was hard and many scorned him as a killer. That was easier than trying to understand his dedication to his people. Women feared and loved him for his mysterious ways of seeing life. Nobles saw him as a lesser individual who didn't know that the real values in life were money and power. To them he was ignorant. To his comrades he was a brother who understands all. To his family he was pride and honor. To himself he was a man of special dedication -- one who puts his country and his people before anything else in his life. God saw him as a son for He saw in the man sacrifice, love, and courage while he was scorned for his beliefs. Jesus saw him as a special brother and saves a special place in heaven for him. His enemies saw him as the reaper of death and they feared him. The warrior, the soldier, the Ranger, the soul child who sits in the lap of the King Immortal Supreme. The blood from his body will always stain the earth. The earth will swallow his body and the sky will always offer her tears to his memory.

Dedicated to those who fought and died before me giving me the soil on which I stand and love and serve to defend. To those Rangers before me who have given honor and standards in courage to live up to. Oh God, I pray that I never fail myself. May my children never feel the hand of Evil that lurks as a shadow over the world.

[kcvl]

Tariq (right) spends his summers at home with his family in Afghanistan, but has been going to school in Peshawar, Pakistan, for the last six years. He lives with relatives there.

What do you think Americans are like?

Answer: "Americans are lucky. They have so many things we don't have: schools, cable TV, computers…and lots of money. My cousin lives in New Jersey and sometimes I talk to him on the telephone. He always tells us about what a good life he has there and how rich everyone is. I hope to go to America for school someday."

-Tariq R., 14, Kewa, Kuz-Kunar District, Nangarhar Province

Selsala (right), like many of her classmates, remained in Kabul under the Taliban regime and during the war and bombing of the city. Her older brother taught her to read and write when she was not able to go to school because of the Taliban's law forbidding girls to attend school.

Do the teenagers in Afghanistan go out on dates?

Answer: No. It is not the tradition of the Afghan people to go out with people of the opposite sex. Not even in a group. It could cause security problems and give my family problems.

(Selsala's mother is standing nearby and interrupts her daughter: "In Najibullah's time, when I was young, boys and girls could go together on picnics—even without a chaperone—and we didn't have to wear a chador either. Gradually it will change here and someday my daughter will go out on picnics with boys too. But first the security situation must improve.")

—Selsala, 16, Kabul

Ramatullah sells papers on the streets of Kabul every afternoon. In the mornings he goes to school with his three brothers.

Would you like to come to America?

Answer: Of course! Who wouldn't? You have good schools, tall buildings, jobs, and nice houses. Here, my father can't find a job and I have to work hard. I would like to come to America to go to school, but I would miss my family. I'd like to bring them with me.

— Ramatullah, 9, Kabul

Safia is the oldest child. She has two brothers and two sisters of which the youngest is one-and-a-half years old. She is in grade seven and has the highest marks in her class. She also likes sports. In the photo she is hitting the volleyball.

In what good ways has your life changed since the attacks on September 11, 2001? Bad ways?

Answer: I am happy the Americans came. They finished the Taliban and changed the government. Now I can go to school and someday I hope to become a doctor. This wouldn't have been possible before.

—Safia, 14, Kabul

[Adam36]

This is a man who gave up millions of dollars to fight for his country. What a hero.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

This man gave up his future for ours. He displays what has made America great. The Lib's hate that. He requested anonimity constantly but he was a star for all the right reasons. His sacrifice puts on display the traits that all the other soldiers who are more succesful at their anonminity. He is an example of the kind of man America has and needs. Where we see one such as he, we can know for sure that there are many thousands more giviving up more than millions to protect our country and earn millions more the freedom we take for granted.

Is there a word bigger than hero for these men? Can we even hope to live up to the price they have paid to give us and others freedom?

God, bless our soldiers and protect the protectors. Keep your hand on their shoulders.

[Tallguy]

Yes, it's easier to get into special forces as an enlisted person rather than as an officer. Officers usually come up through the ranks within the special forces.

Don't know if that's true with the Rangers. While they ARE considered to be Special Forces, Ranger training is taken by a lot of Army personnel, officers in particular, that never join a Ranger battalion. Just look at all those Ranger Tabs worn by senior field grade & general officers. If every one of those guys had actually commanded or did staff time with the Rangers, it wouldn't have been the 75th Ranger Regiment -- rather it would have been the 75th Ranger DIVISION.

[SVTCobra03]

I just read the SI article on Pat Tillman and it was a great story about his remarkable life. However, if you get the magazine go to the last page and read "The Hero and the Unknown Soldier" by Rick Reilly. The guy is clueless about the war against terror.

[Gritty]

BTTT

[AngryJawa]

If I live another 60 years I still won't be half the man Pat Tillman was.

There's a very long lone of men that feel the same way - myself included.

[Prov1322]

Thank YOU to all the families of "Pat Tillman's" out there!

[SerpentDove]

What a great American.

And a nightmare to the left, to boot.

[Rooivalk]

I cannot do what brother Tillman did, but I vow I will be a good citizen and a good American

Dear God guide my steps today.

[Professional Engineer]

Hero ping