Pat Tillman lived a glorious life. His daily drive and demeanor, exceptional to be sure, put him a notch above the rest of us. His drive made him successful. Through high school he was a football sensation, with personal stats that would have been impressive as a team’s. His demeanor earned him respect. He attended college on a football scholarship and earned a 3.84 GPA to avoid the ‘jock’ stereotype. Eventually becoming a star NFL defensive back, it was his sense of duty that would lead him from the goal lines of the football field to the front lines of the battle field. He would die on duty, but his death would not be his undoing. The flagitious stream of lies fed by the U.S. Government following his death, revealed by John Krakauer in Where Men Win Glory, belittled the man who had so valiantly walked away from the American Dream in order to die for it. The way our government dealt with his controversial death viciously struck against everything Pat stood for, and I walked away with a sour taste in my mouth about our “greatest country on earth.”
Desire. Pat was a man who wanted. Wanted to live on the edge, craved a challenge, needed to be busy. When told in High School that he was too small to play baseball, he chose not to join the chess team, but lift weights and play football instead. Headstrong and filled with hubris, he would decide his course and stick with it. While meeting with the head coach of ASU’s football team he announced to his superior, “Coach, you can play me or not play me, but I’m only going to be here four years. And then I’ve got things to do with my life (Page 71-72).” Running his own show, he refused to let the world get in his way.
Pat lived with purpose, but he also lived for others...
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...tion to the press, before his family yet again, the US Government was intentionally ambiguous when explaining their farce of an investigation: “investigation results indicate that Corporal Tillman probably died as a result of friendly fire while his unit was engaged in combat with enemy forces… (Page 361).”
The realization that they had been lied to was like the second coming of Pat’s death to his family. The fabrication of the way in which he died was almost as shocking as his death. The real pity is not that the government failed, but the glorious person whose life they stained. The man who didn’t opt out of the Army when offered and decided to finish the three years he had signed up for. The man who loved everyone he met before he got to talk to them. The man who challenged himself to be the best he could be. A man who was glorious. Gloriously betrayed.
Pat Tillman's Story 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.
In the early hours of the morning on March 4, 1998, Captain Gordon Hess’s body was found face down in a ravine on the military base he was stationed. Although labeled a suicide by the military, speculation continues to persist whether this is really the case. Some of the evidence at the crime scene and information relayed from interviewees seem inconsistent with that of a suicide. Although anomalies may occur in cases, the number of inconsistencies found in the Hess reports make this seem unlikely.
...e gun, it seemed, the greater the owner‘s pride in it.” (McCullough 33) The Continental army certainly did not look like an army yet these people were brought together in this fight for freedom and prevailed even winning the support of Americans who had no hope the British would be defeated.” Merchant Erving had sided with the Loyalists primarily because he thought the rebellion would fail. But the success of Washington‘s army at Boston had changed his mind as it had for many” (McCullough 108). The reader must comprehend the power of this accomplishment for the rag-tag army. “Especially for those who had been with Washington and who knew what a close call it was at the beginning-how often circumstance, storms, contrary winds, the oddities or strengths of individual character had made the difference- the outcome seemed little short of a miracle.” (McCullough 294).
...at his story had to be told to the world so that her son would not die in vain. In conclusion, Mamie Till eloquently summed up the importance of her son’s moment in history by saying, “Emmett was the catalyst that started the Civil Rights movement. Because when people saw what had happened to this little 14 year old boy, they knew that not only were black men in danger but black children as well. And it took something to stir the people up and let them know that either we are going to stand together or we are going to fall together. I do know that without the shedding of blood there is no redemption” (The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till). The media gave unprecedented coverage to the Emmett Till murder, funeral and trial. They reported it with a passion. The media’s drive share this story ultimately made a permanent change in our country’s attitude toward racism.
People ask all the time, “Why does the NCAA put sanctions on football programs?” When I was young, my favorite football player was Eric Dickerson. I never understood why people criticized him about his college playing days, so I asked my dad about it. He said that Dickerson’s college was given the “Death Penalty”. The Original “Death Penalty” was put into effect at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
...l live on. Pat Tillman was a man who displayed his subjective side to everyone he encountered by being cautious and calculating at times and emotional and wise at others. He strived for ways to prove to himself, more than anyone else, that he could overcome tremendous odds to not only survive, but live life to the fullest. When the government failed Tillman’s memory, and therefore everyone he loved by not divulging the truth, the story of Tillman’s life was written in order to protect not only Tillman’s memory and his loved ones, but also people like Jessica Lynch. It is important to note, however, that the tone of this biography is not one of sadness, remorse, regret, and grief, but one that celebrates who Tillman was. During life, Pat Tillman was the embodiment of dedication and loyalty; in death, he is a man who won glory by winning the hearts of America.
Emmett Till’s death inspired people to try to end racism so African-Americans could be granted their rights and protection. Racism, discrimination, and prejudice had been going on for too long, and it was time to stop it. This inspired many people to hold bus boycotts and protests (PBS). A new era was beginning where racism was considered unjust and hurtful, and people would have to face consequences for their actions. Emmett Till was the beginning of this change. He should be considered a hero because without him who knows what our country would be like. He helped African-Americans to be seen as equal, and not an inferior race. His death was a tragedy, but something good came out of it which was freedom. “ I look to a day when people will not be judge by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character” (BrainyQuote).
of all Americans during that trying era. The fate of the Nation was eventually to be
They found themselves expected to settle down into the humdrum routine of American life as if nothing had happened, to accept the moral dicta of elders who seemed to them still to be living in a Pollyanna land of rosy ideals which the war had killed for them. They couldn't do it, and they very disrespectfully said so.2
One of the hardest events that a soldier had to go through during the war was when one of their friends was killed. Despite their heartbreak they could not openly display their emotions. They could not cry because soldiers do not cry. Such an emotional display like crying would be sign of weakness and they didn’t want to be weak, so they created an outlet. “They were actors. When someone died, it wasn’t quite dying because in a curious way it seemed scripted”(19). Of course things were scripted especially when Ted Lavender died. It had happened unexpectedly and if they didn’t have something planned to do while they were coping they would all have broken down especially Lieutenant Cross. Cross...
Pat wrote letters to his wife and in turn, Tiffany delivered them. We later find out that Tiffany was the one all along writing back to Pat and that she had fallen in love with him. Directly following the dance competition, Pat meets his wife once again, but this time things are just not the same. After noticing Pat’s uncontrollable anger and mood swings, he was diagnosed with bipolar.
Have you ever wonder who is Pat Tillman, why is he so important, well today I’m going to tell a little about him.Pat was born on November 6, 1976 in San Jose, California. Pat went to Arizona State University. Pat joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2001.After that when Pat saw the planes crashing into the Twin Towers on the news that hit Pat so hard that he decided to quit football and join the army. Pat was a loyal, friendly, and modest person who he served in the army for his country.
The life of Pat Tillman was a lot of things, so in this concoction of words I will explain three. He never gave himself credit for anything he didn’t do and even when he did do something he
Pat Tillman was known for many things. A psycho on the football field, a loving husband, a loyal person, and person who lived for a thrill. Pat showed great leadership on and off the field. Pat was the Pac - 10 player of 1997. He played football for Arizona State University, then later drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 7th round. After 9/11 happened, pat enrolled himself into the Army Rangers. After his death, many things happened. They started a foundation that gives the vets and their spouses scholarships. Their foundation is named Pat Tillman Foundation. ( Pat Tillman Foundation )
During his career he showed many characteristics of having a strong worth ethic. When asked to describe Pat, his teammates often spoke of his motivation to keep working no matter what. One teammate remembered Pat “lighting people up” every practice even when his teammates’ temper would grow because of it. Pat’s first step towards greatness was playing at Arizona State, but it wasn’t an easy road to get there. When he first played in front of the ASU scouts Pat stayed and played for an hour until he got it exactly right. Pat continually strived for greatness, for instance, when Pat first joined the Arizona Cardinals he was told he probably wasn’t going to get much playing time because of his size. However, Pat proved them wrong everyday he was on that field by pushing himself to the limits. He quickly worked his way up the chain and by the opening game he was the starting safety. Even with his new title Pat still worked hard and was never satisfied. During the NFL’s offseason Pat worked-hard by training to run a marathon. Pat’s goal was to run the marathon in under 4 hours. After completing his goal and he got right back to football. Pat Tillman was never satisfied and showed a strong work ethic throughout his