Silent courage - Tillmans Honored For Move From Sports To Army

Mercury News ^ | 7/16/03 | Mark Emmons

[NormsRevenge]

We don't know for sure why Pat Tillman walked away from the NFL and a $3.6 million contract to join the Army. He has not said one word publicly since he and his brother Kevin, a former minor-league baseball player, enlisted more than a year ago.

[NormsRevenge]

(MIKE HASKEY/COLUMBUS LEDGER-ENQUIRER)

Pat Tillman, right, a former Arizona Cardinal, walks next to Captain Christoper Deale, company commander of B Company 1st BN 19th Infantry Regiment, during graduation ceremonies Friday morning, October 25, 2002, on Sand Hill at Fort Benning, Georgia.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

An athlete who sets a good example.

[Khurkris]

"When the Tillmans enlisted, they had the goal of becoming Rangers -- a light-infantry, quick-strike force that is one of the military's top combat units."

RLTW - Sua Sponte.

[Prof Engineer]

We don't know for sure why Pat Tillman walked away from the NFL and a $3.6 million contract to join the Army.

Earth to liberals. It's called patriotism.

Study it. You could learn something.

[wideawake]

Simeon Rice - embarrassing, no-talent scumbag.

The Tillman brothers - among the finest young men in America.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...America, such a Wonderful Country, is truly worth the protecting by such BRAVEHEARTS as these ...and they know it best of all.


May GOD Bless our Freedom-Fighters, always.


http://www.WeWereSoldiers.com

http://www.lzxray.com



Signed:..ALOHA RONNIE Guyer / Vet-U.S. 7th Cavalry's Opening Days of the Vietnam War 1965-66

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
(Photos)

[MattinNJ]

Bravo to the Tillmans.

Simeon Rice is a sack of s#$%. When the Giants signed Kenny Holmes instead of Rice I was dissapointed, but I figured that they had their reasons. Now I know why-his character flaws must have been very apparent.

[Blueflag]

For those of us who never wore a Ranger uniform, could you translate some items in the photo?

The blue braid, the pennant, the badges, etc.? What can we discern from what he is wearing about how he did in Ranger School/training?

He looks like a recruiting poster.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

'Remember the Lost and Suffering on September 11, 2001'

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33

[soccermom]

Way to go TillMEN! And they're in my neck of the woods!

[CholeraJoe]

That's his graduation from Infantry Basic Training. At that point he had not yet attended Ranger Training or else he would have had one of these on the sleeve of his dress uniform:

[txzman]

Courage, Honor, Country Bump!

[Khurkris]

This looks like his graduation from Basic Training photo.
The blue brade is signifying his status as an Honor Graduate. The flag is probably the Platoon or maybe Company Guidon or Honor flag. It appears that his rank at graduation is Specialist 4th Class or E-4. It is, or at least was, very unusual for someone to attain this rank straight out of Basic Training.

After a short vacation Spec. Tillman will report to Ft. Benning to begin Ranger School. Some go thru Airborne School 1st, some after. Its a journey that has many stops.

Hope this helps. But this is an old photo.

[ameribbean expat]

graduation from AIT (advanced individual training), hence the sp4 rank and blue cord. the specialist better hit the rifle range. Looks like a marksman qual badge to me (23 of 40 hits on a 25-300m range). next stop: airborne school.

[Blueflag]

thanks!

[Khurkris]

Also..if you go to my 'links' page, you will find some links to web sites that will tell you a bit more about the Rangers.

Thanks.

[Blueflag]

"under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country..."

No wonder Clinton loathed the military.

[ewing]

It wouldnt surprise me a bit if Ranger Tillman was the guy hauling Pfc. Lynch out of that Iraqi hosptial bed..

[ewing]

[fourdeuce82d]

his graduation from Infantry Basic Training

concur, but how the hell did he earn Sp4?