Noted legal and policing scholar Lebron James put his foot in his mouth again over the Columbus OH shooting of a knife wielding 17 year old girl. Look for an article about that incident, and the predictable reponse from the usual supects, later today.
This article isn’t about James, it’s about a true hero. Patrick Daniel Tillman jr. James, and the rest of the entitled, spoiled, coddled and bratty atheletes out there could learn a great deal from Pat’s example.
Pat was an NFL cornerback who walked away from football to join the Army in the wake of 9/11.
Tillman was born on November 6, 1976, in Fremont, California, the eldest son of Mary and Patrick Kevin Tillman. After a standout high school football career, Tillman played linebacker for Arizona State, leading the Sun Devils to an undefeated 1997 season and a Rose Bowl berth.
Pat was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1998 draft. He started 10 games his rookie season. Tillman finished his career with totals of 340 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 interceptions for 37 yards, 3 forced fumbles, 15 pass deflections, and 3 fumble recoveries in 60 career games. In addition he also had 1 rush attempt for 4 yards and returned 3 kickoffs for 33 yards.
In May 2002, eight months after the September 11 attacks and after completing the 15 remaining games of the 2001 season which followed the attacks, Tillman turned down a contract offer of $3.6 million over three years from the Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Pat and his brother Kevin enlisted in May of 2002, attending basic at FT Benning GA together. The both completed the Ranger assesment and selection program and were assigned to the 2nd Ranger bn at FT Lewis. Pat’s first combat deployment was as part of the initial invasion of Iraq. He attended Ranger school in 2003, graduating in November.
Tillman was subsequently redeployed to Afghanistan, and based at FOB Salerno. Pat was killed in a friendly fire incident on 22 APR 2004. I am not going to get into the controversy surrounding Pat’s death and the subsequent attempt to bury the facts surrounding the incident other to say it was one of the sorriest, most screwed up things the Army did in that period of time.
Pat was a true hero. He sacrificed and ultimately died doing what he thought was right, what was needful.
Until Valhalla and Freya’s Fields.