Not The End
PHOENIX — Former NFL defense back Pat Tillman (search) died while serving as an Army ranger in Afghanistan, several news organizations reported Friday. [SNIP]
Tillman shocked fans when he turned down a $3.6 million contract with the [Arizona] Cardinals to be an Army ranger.
UPDATE: "There is in Pat Tillman's example, in his unexpected choice of duty to his country over the riches and other comforts of celebrity, and in his humility, such an inspiration to all of us to reclaim the essential public-spiritedness of Americans that many of us, in low moments, had worried was no longer our common distinguishing trait." --Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz
Man, this one hurts.
Posted by: Pat Curley | April 23, 2004 at 09:09 AM
Oh man....
Posted by: toddk | April 23, 2004 at 09:14 AM
I've been on the verge of crying ever since I first heard this. This truly does hurt. What a sacrifice. We're going to have to work hard to be worthy of this.
Posted by: Calliope | April 23, 2004 at 10:40 AM
A true American Patriot.
Posted by: Sam | April 23, 2004 at 10:45 AM
When I read/hear about sacrifice and heroism as evidenced by Mr. Tillman, it makes me grind my teeth even harder when I hear self aggrandizing pinheads like kerry self-promoting his "heroism."
Posted by: HogarthGamble | April 23, 2004 at 12:40 PM
Yes, I know Tillman was just one soldier, who had left a high-profile, very remunerative career to serve his country. Yes, I know every American in Afghanistan or Iraq faces the same hazards and courts the same risks. Yes, I know that a man's ability to command a large salary is no measure of his worth.
Still...
Pat Tillman was an inspiration to those of us who had feared that the American ethic of service, and the American veneration of high ideals such as liberty and justice, had disappeared from our shores. Few have turned away from as much as he did to serve those ideals.
Rest in peace, Pat. May God hold you always in the palm of His hand.
Posted by: Francis W. Porretto | April 23, 2004 at 01:18 PM
The world is a poorer place without a man of his character around.
Aye, and I should step up as a man of character in everything I do also.
In honor of him, and others like him.
Posted by: steve h | April 23, 2004 at 01:33 PM
Thank you, Pat.
Salutes.
Wipes tear.
J. Lawson
USAFR(ret)
Posted by: JLawson | April 23, 2004 at 01:37 PM
Here is how my local paper, Gannett-owned News Journal in Wilmington Delaware, opened the front page article on Mr. Tillman:
from wire reports
"Besides his wife of two years, his parents and two younger brothers, what Pat Tillman leaves behind is an unsettling wonder at what motivated him."
???????
Perhaps this paragraph is more an inquiry into the myopic self-loathing of the media then Pat Tillman's motivation. Any decent person should KNOW what motivated Tillman.
The short article goes on the under-rate Tillman as a football player. He is described as too slow and too small. One does not tally 223 tackles in a season by being "too slow, too small".
In a positive final paragraph, the article quotes Philadelphia Eagles fullback Jon Ritchie, who played against him in college and the NFL. Asked how many NFLers would give up the league to fight for their country he said:
'One. He did it. A paradigm no one else considered following because he's a guy that was prouder of his country than his occupation would allow."
Why is this so hard for so many to understand?
Posted by: Kevin | April 24, 2004 at 09:50 AM
McCain could have said it in fewer words:
Duty. Honor. Country.
Posted by: Mitch | April 24, 2004 at 07:29 PM