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The fallen soldier of fortune
ESPN.COM ^ | 22 APRIL 2005 | Adrian Wojnarowski

Posted on 04/22/2005 9:12:59 AM PDT by MikefromOhio

All those people, all over the country, searched for someone to send an offering to so it would reach the eyes of an American hero's family. They would do Google searches and see the same name pop up again and again, the one quoted in the stories on Pat Tillman: Doug Tammaro.

Inside his office at Arizona State University's sports information department, the boxes of envelopes and cards stacked higher and higher, arriving in the hours and days and months after Tillman's death. There were letters and poems and sheets of music. There were copies of the Sports Illustrated cover shot as an Arizona Cardinal, the senders figuring that the family in San Jose, Calif., would want an extra copy or two around the house.

Someone turned the cover of a pizza box into a papier-mâché memorial for the old ASU Sun Devil No. 42.

One kid wrote: "You said you didn't want to be a hero. Too bad. You're mine."

They were the simplest, strangest and most wonderful tributes. With nowhere else to turn, it would be the college publicity man, Tammaro, turning into something of a traffic cop on the life and legacy of his close pal. Before the Pat Tillman Foundation was set up, so much would travel across Tammaro's desk, a work space framed by an immense action photo of Tillman on the football field that hung on his wall long before it became so fashionable.

--snip--

He {Tammaro} remembered the end of that last night together, remembered Tillman's telling him to say hello to everyone back at ASU, remembered hugging him good-bye. The last thing Tammaro remembers is Tillman walking away, up a hill, looking like the most invincible ass-kicking machine in Uncle Sam's Army.

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: arizonast; espn; football; nfl; pattillman; realamericanhero
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Tribute to an American hero.
1 posted on 04/22/2005 9:13:03 AM PDT by MikefromOhio
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To: MoJo2001; Former Military Chick; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

ping.


2 posted on 04/22/2005 9:13:55 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (I want my very own Ron Mexico jersey and the NFL won't let me!!!)
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To: MikeinIraq
Hero - definitely.

"Soldier of Fortune" definitely NOT.

Whoever crafted that headline is a jerk (in my opinion)
3 posted on 04/22/2005 9:15:04 AM PDT by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: Coop

Tonight 8pm eastern on ESPN is the Tillman special..


4 posted on 04/22/2005 9:17:02 AM PDT by Dog
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To: BenLurkin

title aside, I like what was written....

I think he was trying to do some sort of obscure reference to the fact Tillman walked away from Millions to be the Army.


5 posted on 04/22/2005 9:18:46 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (I want my very own Ron Mexico jersey and the NFL won't let me!!!)
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To: MikeinIraq

Understood.


6 posted on 04/22/2005 9:19:24 AM PDT by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: BenLurkin

yeah....

hey its a well written piece on ESPN, we couldnt really ask for more unfortunately....


7 posted on 04/22/2005 9:21:49 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (I want my very own Ron Mexico jersey and the NFL won't let me!!!)
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To: MikeinIraq
Oh my. I can't read that whole story, or my eyes will be swollen shut from bawling. Every time I see his picture it's like somebody punched me in the heart.

What an unbelievable human being. And what a tragic story. I am so proud to live in a country that produces men like Pat Tillman, and I wish I could bring him back.

God bless every one of our troops. All are heroes in my eyes.

8 posted on 04/22/2005 9:22:01 AM PDT by teenyelliott (Soylent green is made of liberals...)
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To: MikeinIraq

Yes. Thank you for posting the article.

He is a hero to me; someone I know I could never match either in terms of ability and in courage. His story leaves me emotional every time I think of it.


9 posted on 04/22/2005 9:29:26 AM PDT by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: MikeinIraq

the fact Tillman walked away from Millions to be the Army.


Otherwise, Tillman was one of many US Army Rangers.....not a single one of Service or death is any more or less valuable, unfortunate, Patriotic or Honorable than Tillmans was.


10 posted on 04/22/2005 9:33:51 AM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68

Certainly it isnt meant to show that Tillman was better.

It is to show that Tillman felt his country was more important than the millions of dollars and he is to be an example to follow, as all the Army Rangers are. Tillman happened to be nationally known at the time. That is about the only difference I can see.....


11 posted on 04/22/2005 9:36:08 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (I want my very own Ron Mexico jersey and the NFL won't let me!!!)
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To: MikeinIraq

That is about the only difference I can see.....

Thank you.

How many other Ranger kia's can we name? Medal citations of same?

all I'm saying is that the others get short shrift.....


12 posted on 04/22/2005 9:41:57 AM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68

that's a bit shallow of you.

Would you have given up guaranteed millions and a nice life to go crawling around in the dirt because you WANTED too? I doubt I could.

We should find some of the Rangers within his platoon or company and see if THEY think they are getting short shifted or the families of those other Rangers too. Some people wouldnt even know what the Army Rangers were without Tillman.

His sacrifice, along with all other military deaths, are to be honored. Tillman gave up a lot to get there and then paid the ultimate price. We shouldnt act like this is short shifting other Rangers because he was unique, because it isnt.


13 posted on 04/22/2005 9:44:58 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (I want my very own Ron Mexico jersey and the NFL won't let me!!!)
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To: MikeinIraq

A heartbreaking loss. But a reminder that America still creates brave men such as these. Always a credit to our nation. Always the best of us.


14 posted on 04/22/2005 9:47:19 AM PDT by GVnana
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68

A good and valid point that should be made. Semper Fi!


15 posted on 04/22/2005 9:48:44 AM PDT by Bigturbowski
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To: MikeinIraq

"that's a bit shallow of you."

We'll have to disagree on that. The ONLY thing that distinguishes him from the others is the NFL.

(AND you forgot to name some other Rangers, like I asked)


16 posted on 04/22/2005 9:49:58 AM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68

If you really want to denigrate Pat Tillman because he is having stories written about him and the others aren't, start your own thread please.


17 posted on 04/22/2005 9:51:56 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (I want my very own Ron Mexico jersey and the NFL won't let me!!!)
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To: MikeinIraq

you characterize my point as "denigrating" Tillman?

You have no clue, pal. No clue at all.


18 posted on 04/22/2005 9:54:58 AM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68; MikeinIraq
...it isn't meant to show he's better...

Quite the opposite. It showed just how much Pat Tillman valued freedom, and that he recognized his obligation to protect it.

19 posted on 04/22/2005 9:58:24 AM PDT by Coop (In memory of a true hero - Pat Tillman)
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To: MikeinIraq
Would you have given up guaranteed millions and a nice life to go crawling around in the dirt because you WANTED too? I doubt I could. We should find some of the Rangers within his platoon or company and see if THEY think they are getting short shifted or the families of those other Rangers too. Some people wouldnt even know what the Army Rangers were without Tillman. His sacrifice, along with all other military deaths, are to be honored. Tillman gave up a lot to get there and then paid the ultimate price. We shouldnt act like this is short shifting other Rangers because he was unique, because it isnt.

Well said!

20 posted on 04/22/2005 9:59:53 AM PDT by Coop (In memory of a true hero - Pat Tillman)
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