This guy is incredible, my hats off to his family....

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7277321

 

I second your motion.

This guy is, in the full sense of the term, a hero. Giving up millions of dollars to become a Ranger and paying the ultimate price for his country.

 

indeed. i remember when he decided to enlist all of the media outlets wanted interviews and even SportsCenter did a story on him. he didn't want any of the glory and didn't do any interviews about his decision. he most certainly is a great soldier that should not be forgotten.

 

Not to rain on his parade, but he's just another person. Because he turned down a NFL deal, that makes him better? That makes him good enough that the White House has to make an announcement. Why didn't the other smo blows that lost their life get recognition? If one guy gets that treatment everyone else should.

 

lifeguardjoe,
Would you have turned down $4 million to go to war? I can honestly say that I probably wouldn't give up my NFL career to go to Iraq. Don't get me wrong, I'm no less patriotic than the next guy, but that's a hell of a lot to give up. Most people wouldn't have done what Tillman did and that's why he's being recognized. However, it is unfortunate that none of the other soldiers are getting as much attention as he is, but the public recognizes Tillman more than they do the "smo blows," that's just the way things go. He was an amazing man and he, along with the rest of the soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice, will be in my prayers. Rest in peace, Pat. Just for the record, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, I just felt the need to give you my two cents- nothing personal.

-Craig

 

Ahh goodie... another debate. Thanks Joe.

Everything I say is of my own opinion. I'm not trying to be a smartarse by saying anything I say here nor am I trying to provoke a riot.

While I tend to agree with you to a certain extent, I must go with my best judgement here and say that this was an extreme circumstance. The same would be true of any other average Joe-Blow going down the interstate, spinning out of control, hitting a barrier wall, and getting killed upon impact. If that person is a movie-star, they get coverage. The reason? Because that person has power, fame, money, etc.

The same is true in this instance however, it's exactly the opposite. He gave up that life so that he could devote his to a totally different cause; free of the money, fame, and power.

While all soldiers who have paid the ultimate price for their country are heros, this one stands out because of the situation. Does that make him more of a hero? No. Does that make him more of a news figure and something that the public wants to know about? Yes.

It's just that black and white Joe. It's not meant to knock our other fallen heros, just to highlight one that had special circumstances that nearly everyone wishes that they could live... he tured down those circumstances to become a hero. Thank god there are people like that in the United States because few would do that under the same circumstances.

RP

 

Joe,

All one needs to do, to appricate this guy is look at the power hungry greedy b@stards we call movie stars and professional athletes. Do you really think Allan Iverson or Shaq would do such a thing?

This guy has character! To think that you can't recognize what makes him different, gives me reason, to question your character.

 

I have to say, being former military myself, that this guy makes me DAMN PROUD to have served in the military.

I think of every person in the military as heroes, special and just absolutely extraordinary but for me, and I am sure for many others in the military, this kind of person, someone that gives up the REAL GOOD life to serve along someone like me just really makes me proud beyond belief to know that there are some of the rich and spoiled out there that think of their country and fellow citizens first and foremost prior to their present and or future life styles…

I understand what Joe is saying and I find nothing wrong with what Joe is saying but let me say this to Joe:

Even though if I had died while on active duty I would not have got any kind of press coverage expect in a local paper with a few lines if that. This guy is getting a lot of media attention and I just LOVE IT, it brings to light just how dangerous the military can be and just what it means to serve your country first before yourself as this guy did and just how tough it can be on friends and families if you happen to pay the ultimate price for others to keep the freedoms they have.

Joe, look at this guy as giving some of us veterans and those on active duty a little spot light for what we did or are doing now. When you think of what freedoms you have now think of Tillman and the ultimate price he has paid so you and I and everyone else can maintain the freedoms we have. Tillman is the face of those who have sacrificed a lot of things in life while serving, Tillman more then others, but for the average joe like me you still sacrifice a lot when serving your country…

Another example this gentleman made was proven to many of us and children that real men and real women DO what they think is the right thing regardless what others may THINK or SAY. I am sure a lot of his friends and maybe family told him he was crazy for giving up what he gave up to serve but he was a LEADER and did what HE thought was right regardless of any peer pressure…

 

No need to questions Joe's character, he's got more of it than most his age. I think you are just measuring one little aspect of a man's character, his ability to turn down large sums of money to do what he believed in. (That may or may not mean he was of higher character than the average person.) I would have to say there are men that died in every war that have equal amounts of character without being in the public eye before or after their death.

I certainly don't want to take accolades away from a man that made the supreme sacrifice for his country, but that in no way puts Joe's character in question.

BTW I have the utmost respect for what he did. I just hate it turned out the way it did.

 

Ok, apparently he's younger than I thought, that would explain his position. The big picture in life does become a little (very little) clearer when you get some miles under your belt.

 

Just saw this story on the nightly news. I saw it when he signed up also. Thought then that he was a different breed from the rest when he did it.

I dont think this only high lights his own bravery, but brings to light or at least attention, the sacrifices all that go to fight make. His story should only people understand what sacrifice means and how these brave people serve our country by choice, no matter what their income or class as the liberials would have you believe.

Sled...

We need a solute Icon onn here.

 

Tillman was a great American. What he did is no different than what many of the founders of this country did. Gave up riches and family time for his country and freedom. Anyone who doesn't see him as a special/great American, well, I wonder if they can see anything at all. How many of us would do what he did, if we were REALLY faced with the decisions he made? People like him are what made this country.

 

Joe, I dunno if you read the whole article, but there is one line that says "he never said one word publicly about it." That means to press confreness, no press releases no interviews. A reporter asked him for an interview a while back and he said he would do one after their interviewed ever other soldier first. He wasn't doing it for the publicity. He did it because he realized he was no better then anyone and why should you or I go die for him.

And personally I agree with you about everyone getting recgonition.

http://www.defendamerica.mil/fallen/fln-oif.html

Once a week I go there and look over the names of all my peers who have died so I may have a good life.

And finally you mention something about the white house making an announcment, They make one everytime a soldier dies.

31C

 

http://www.benning.army.mil/rtb/ranger/CREED.htm

 

Woah woah. I must have come across wrong. (Takes time to go back and reread)...OK, Back to make myself clearer. Apparently this dude turned down the awesome life of $4 mil a year or whatever right? He seemed to have done all the right things, and yes, he should be called a hero. What I was getting at was, why didn't the guy who had a loving wife and three beautiful children get the same recognition? Hell, the guy with the wife and kids should get more recognition because anyone can make $4 million a year(yes you can, as long as you're in the right place and time) but realistically, you won't make $4 mil. You WILL get married(for the most part) and you will probably have kids too.

I don't get involved in what TOM CRUISE did, or what JESSICA SIMPSON said. I don't care. They don't affect me, unless they make an awesome movie. Point is, I think the average smo blow should get more recognition as a hero than some superstar. Just my thoughts.