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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (40631)	4/23/2004 10:58:19 AM
From: carranza2	Respond to of 793928

Terrible loss of a star athlete, good guy, and stellar citizen.

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (40631)	4/23/2004 1:03:25 PM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793928

Pat Tillman is gone God, I am sorry to hear that. I felt it coming when I first read that he had enlisted. I had a friend in the 60s who was in the Marine reserves and activated because he felt an obligation to serve. Same result. For those that don't know the story. Pat Tillman, a former NFL player who gave up his football career to join the U.S. Army, has been killed while serving in Afghanistan. AP Graphics Bank In the Line of Duty U.S. Army Ranger and Ex-NFL Player Pat Tillman Killed in Afghanistan ABCNEWS.com April 23— Pat Tillman, a former NFL player who swapped a glamorous football career to enlist in the U.S. Army, has been killed in action in Afghanistan, ABCNEWS has learned. The 27-year-old former football player was killed in direct action during a firefight in eastern Afghanistan Thursday, Pentagon sources told ABCNEWS. A former member of the Arizona Cardinals, Tillman, along with his brother Kevin, enrolled with the U.S. Army Rangers a year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. According to a Pentagon source, Tillman was killed in action when his unit's patrol was attacked by small arms and mortar fire during a coordinated ambush in eastern Afghanistan. Two U.S. soldiers were wounded and one enemy combatant was killed during the ambush. Tillman's brother, Kevin, a former minor league baseball player with the Cleveland Indians, is in the same platoon. Last year, the brothers were awarded an Arthur Ashe Courage Award meant for individuals whose contributions transcend sports. The award was accepted by their younger brother, Richard, while the brothers were away. Tillman, an unrestricted free agent, traded a $3.6 million, three-year contract with the Cardinals for military service. He made the decision after returning from his honeymoon with his wife, Marie, in May 2002. The Tillman family has been notified, according to a Pentagon source. A formal announcement is expected later today. A Shocking Decision The 5-foot-11, 200-pound football player shocked his teammates and fans when he announced his decision to join the Army. He was first sent to Iraq with the 75th Regiment Ranger Battalion last March during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following a brief break, he was posted in Afghanistan, where U.S. troops have been battling pockets of al Qaeda and Taliban resistance since U.S.-led forces attacked the Central Asian nation in 2001. Despite major media interest in his story, Tillman remained very private about his decision to give up football for military service. He swore his family to silence, according to media reports, and never publicly commented about his choice. While some media reports suggested that Tillman had lost friends in the attacks on the World Trade Center, family members denied the reports. ‘Extraordinary Young Man’ Reacting to the news in a statement released today, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he was "heartbroken" by the news of Tillman's death. "The tragic loss of this extraordinary young man will seem a heavy blow to our nation's morale, as it is surely a grievous injury to his loved ones," said McCain in the statement. "Many American families have suffered the same terrible sacrifice that Pat's family must now bear, and the patriotism that their loved ones exemplified is as fine and compelling as Pat's." A star football player at Arizona State prior to signing up with the Cardinals, Tillman played four seasons with the Cardinals before he joined the Army.