Pat Tillman Hero or Asshole Who Got Murdered for Good Cause
No one knows the real story of Pat Tillman. On April 23, 2004 news headlines filled the air waves with tragic news that Pat Tillman was killed in action yesterday, fighting in Afghanistan. While on a patrol with his detachment through eastern Afghanistan, the detachment was ambushed. When the ambush was quelled, sadly, Pat Tillman was dead. For the better part of the week following his death, his story was still being constantly reported about on every news channel including ESPN. The NFL dedicated the remainder of the year in Pat Tillman's name. Jake Plummer quarterback for the Denver Bronco's and close friend to Pat Tillman was fined for violating the NFL's uniform code when he displayed Pat Tillman's old football number on a decal in the back of his helmet. For the American public, the common perception of Pat Tillman was that he was a symbol of a true American hero who gave up a lucrative life in the NFL, to fight and die for his country.
I myself remember hearing of Pat Tillman's death and told my dad that Pat Tillman is the definition of a true sports hero but more importantly an American hero. As time passed, Tillman's story disappeared from main stream news. However, weeks later the story did re-emerge when the Pentagon released a 2,000 page report regarding Pat Tillman.
In the article Family Demands the Truth New Inquiry may Expose Events that led to Pat Tillman's Death, Robert Collier (staff writer for the San Frisco Chronicle) summarizes the 2,000 page report. As a result of September 11, Pat and his brother Kevin both joined the Army Rangers in June of 2002. After their training they were sent to Iraq and in 2004, was fighting in Afghanistan. On April 22, Tillman was with his detachment in search of al Qaeda in the village of Manah when one of the humvees stalled and shut down. The detachment then split up into two groups one moving forward and the other waiting to transport with the humvee.
Tillman being apart of the first group
I myself remember hearing of Pat Tillman's death and told my dad that Pat Tillman is the definition of a true sports hero but more importantly an American hero. As time passed, Tillman's story disappeared from main stream news. However, weeks later the story did re-emerge when the Pentagon released a 2,000 page report regarding Pat Tillman.
In the article Family Demands the Truth New Inquiry may Expose Events that led to Pat Tillman's Death, Robert Collier (staff writer for the San Frisco Chronicle) summarizes the 2,000 page report. As a result of September 11, Pat and his brother Kevin both joined the Army Rangers in June of 2002. After their training they were sent to Iraq and in 2004, was fighting in Afghanistan. On April 22, Tillman was with his detachment in search of al Qaeda in the village of Manah when one of the humvees stalled and shut down. The detachment then split up into two groups one moving forward and the other waiting to transport with the humvee.
Tillman being apart of the first group