Patrick Daniel Tillman
 November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004 |
Now I have never been a football fan. No, I believe I have watched a total of one (1) football game in my life ...
And that was because I was visiting friends and would never dare to interfere with their planned entertainment.
However, I am well acquainted with the backstories of American heros. Pat Tillman's story is just such a tail of duty and valor and profound tragedy.
Pat Tillman was an American footballer in the National Football League (NFL) who enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks after departing a promising sports career.
He served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was killed by friendly fire.
He was posthumously promoted from specialist to corporal and was also awarded posthumous Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
This is one of those times when a person's patriotism wasn't brought to a clear and conscise publicity in the name of protecting the military.