Pat Tillman: Sacrifice, Valor and the Tragic Reality of Friendly Fire

[Dagenais]

NFL Football star Pat Tillman, who gave up millions by turning down a contract with the Arizona Cardinals, because he chose to fight as a Ranger in Afghanistan was killed during April.

The Army awarded Tillman the Silver Star, its third-highest award for combat valor, saying Tillman led his Ranger team that day "without regard for his own safety" and was killed, "heroically trying to save his comrades".

The Army said his actions helped the trapped soldiers to safety "without taking a single casualty."

Well, an investigation done by the US Army reported that Tillman died of friendly fire.

So, he wasn't killed for Al-queda. Tillman went to fight in this war because he thought it was the right thing to do. He gave up millions of dollars, a life of fame and a dream job.

In the end, he was killed by his own soldiers.

:uhh:

http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/2004/US/05/29/tillman.report/

 

[member 5645]

that sucks!

 

[Robert Zaleski]

Unfortunately, this happens on occasion. Many times this kind of thing occurs at night, when your calling in close support fire. I remember an incident on the Vinh Te Canal in 1969, where a member of one of the River Divisions patrolling the canal was killed by friendly helicopter fire. I was attached to River Division 535.