Army awards Tillman posthumous Silver Star

CNN ^ | April 30, 2004 | CNN

[The Bandit]

Tillman was killed while performing his duty "without regard to his personal safety," the Army said in a statement.

Tillman left behind his NFL career as a safety with the Arizona Cardinals to join the Army after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

[The Bandit]

Here is a REAL Silver Star for you all, nothing phony here.

[annyokie]

3-9. Silver Star
a. The Silver Star, section 3746, title 10, United States Code (10 USC 3746), was established by Act of Congress 9 July 1918 (amended by act of 25 July 1963).

b. The Silver Star is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for the Distinguished Service Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction.

c. It is awarded upon letter application to Commander, PERSCOM, ATTN: TAPC-PDA, Alexandria, VA 22332-0471, to those individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, received a citation for gallantry in action in World War I published in orders issued by a headquarters commanded by a general officer.

[HiJinx]

That was one quick Silver Star...but from the action report, well deserved.

As for the promotion, however...things must have changed in the last 8 years. When I was in, this would not have been a promotion. The ranks of Specialist and Corporal are both at pay-grade E-4. The difference is that the rank of Specialist (an E-4) wasn't normally given to a non-combat arms soldier.

On the other hand, all combat arms soldiers and all soldiers in a leadership position were promoted to the rank of corporal (an E-4) from Private First Class (an E-3).

[Joe 6-pack]

Godspeed, Ranger Tillman.

[SAMWolf]

Agree with you HiJinx. I was telling Snippy the same thing about Specialist and Corporal when it was announced.

[RangerVetNam]

I can assure you that enlisted men really earn their silver stars.

[HiJinx]

Had to be a reason for that...I wonder why...?

[RetiredArmy]

Corporal is a leadership rank. Specialist covers all other E-4s. Whether a cook, infantry squad member, mechanic, an E-4 is a specialist. A corporal is involved in a combat arms MOS and can be a squad leader, assistant squad leader. Before I retired, the Army did away with Spec 5, Spec 6. I was a Spec 6 in the JAG corps, until I made SFC E-7. Later they made all Spec 6's Staff Sergeants. All Spec 5s became Sergeant E-5's (buck sergeant). All Spec 4s were simply called Specialists. Since they were the only ones left in that category. PV1, PV2 were still privates, and PFC E-3 was the same.

[EternalHope]

John F'n Kerry got a Silver Star for killing a wounded VC who was clearly no longer a threat to anybody, assuming the VC was even still alive (there were no witnesses).

I wonder if any reporter would dare ask F'n if F'n's actions were on a par with Pat Tillman's actions.

[cynicom]

All medals are not equal. Kerry may have been "awarded" a silver star, the difference is, did he "earn" it. I think not.

[railsplitter]

"Tillman's platoon was split into two sections. Tillman was the team leader of the lead section...

"Rangers Lead The Way" Very appropriate motto and Specialist (now Corporal) Tillman displayed leadership and courage befitting his Ranger Tab, his charges, and his chosen profession.

Thanks to all that have chosen the warrior's way of life.

Served in the glorious rank of E-4 (Specialist) myself. Often referred to as the backbone of the military (all branches) The most KIA's in this operation (theater) have been E-4's.

[Dog]

"Tillman's platoon was split into two sections. Tillman was the team leader of the lead section when the trail section began receiving suppressive mortar and small-arms fire. ... [The] cavernous terrain made it extremely difficult to target enemy positions, and there was no room for the trail element to maneuver out of the kill zone.

Even though his element was out of the area that had come under fire, Tillman "ordered his team to dismount and maneuvered his team up a hill toward the enemy's location," the Army said.

During the battle, he issued "fire commands to take the fight to the enemy on the dominating high ground," the statement continued.

"Only after his team engaged the well-armed enemy did it appear their fires diminished."

Because of Tillman's leadership and his team's efforts, the trail section under fire "was able to maneuver through the ambush to positions of safety without a single casualty," the Army said.

He died leading a charge up a hill to take out an Al Qaeda position...

[The Bandit]

It is an posthumous award, HiJinx with a lot of media attention. Under these circumstances there is nothing horribly unusal. They peddled Kerry's Silver Star much faster :-)

Speaking of the devil: Kerry has NOT released his after-action report for Feb 28, 1969, the say he earned his Silver Star. Only thing he turned over was a love note from Zumwalt for that day.

Anyone have a verified date for when Zumwalt pinned that Silver Star on Kerry?

[New Horizon]

This is one guy that likely made these skinny little scumbags quake in their sandals.

Look at the guy...his neck was thicker than his head!

God bless him.

[SAMWolf]

Seems to me he should have had the Corporal rank beforehand. I know they dropped all the Specialist ranks except E-4, but didn't know the Rangers still used the Specialist rank.

[HiJinx]

Oh, I had no intention of belittling the award...I'll be the first to agree that it was appropriate to the action and earned honorably.

Just commenting on the speed...you're right, this one had attention from outside the Army, and it looks like that made a difference.

[Dog Gone]

Did I miss an announcement that CNN stories must be excerpted?

[demlosers]

Often referred to as the backbone of the military (all branches) The most KIA's in this operation (theater) have been E-4's.

Yes, the worker bee rank.

[leadpenny]

When I went into the Army (61) there were still a few Spec 7's 8's and 9's left before they were converted. Soon it was dropped back to Spec 6 as the max Specialist grade and even later the max was Spec 5 before making E-4 the only Specialist rank.

[The Bandit]

Did I miss an announcement that CNN stories must be excerpted?

That is the word I got, though not sure how much you are supposed to excerpt.