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[[Image:Pat Tillman.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|Pat Tillman]]

[[Image:Pat Tillman.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|Pat Tillman]]

Corporal '''Pat Tillman''' (b. November 6th, 1976; d. April 22nd, 2004) was a [[scholar]], [[athlete]], [[leader]], [[hero]], [[friend]] and an [[United States of America|American]] [[patriot]]. After the terrorist attacks of [[9/11]], he gave up a lucrative [[NFL]] career with the [[Arizona Cardinals]] to fight for his country as an [[75th Ranger Regiment|Army Ranger]]; he died fighting in [[Afghanistan]].

Corporal '''Pat Tillman''' (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004) was a [[scholar]], [[athlete]], [[leader]], [[hero]], [[friend]] and an [[United States of America|American]] [[patriot]]. After the terrorist attacks of [[9/11]], he gave up a lucrative [[NFL]] career with the [[Arizona Cardinals]] to fight for his country as an [[75th Ranger Regiment|Army Ranger]]; he died fighting in [[Afghanistan]].

==Early Years==

==Early Years==

==Arizona State==

==Arizona State==

In 1996, he helped lead the Sun Devils to the 1997 [[Rose Bowl]] after an undefeated regular season. <ref>[http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pat_asu.php Arizona State University] Pat Tillman Foundation</ref> Pat would come to dominate the position of linebacker earning him three selections to the All-Pac-10 Team and in 1997, he won the Pac-10 Conference's Defensive Player of the Year Award.

In 1996, he helped lead the Sun Devils to the 1997 [[Rose Bowl]] after an undefeated regular season.<ref>[http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pat_asu.php Arizona State University] Pat Tillman Foundation</ref> Pat would come to dominate the position of linebacker earning him three selections to the All-Pac-10 Team and in 1997, he won the Pac-10 Conference's Defensive Player of the Year Award.

==Arizona Cardinals==

==Arizona Cardinals==

In the 1998 [[NFL]] draft, Pat was selected in the seventh round by Arizona as a starting safety. He recorded a franchise record 154 tackles in 2000. He pursued a master's degree in history from his alma mater. He volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of [[Arizona]], Boys Hope Girls Hope and [[March of Dimes]]. In 2002, he married his high school sweetheart Marie. Upon returning from their [[honeymoon]], he told Marie that he was leaving football for the [[Army]].

In the 1998 [[NFL]] draft, Pat was selected in the seventh round by Arizona as a starting safety. He recorded a franchise record 154 tackles in 2000. He pursued a master's degree in history from his alma mater. He volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of [[Arizona]], Boys Hope Girls Hope and [[March of Dimes]]. In 2002, he married his high school sweetheart Marie. Upon returning from their [[honeymoon]], he told Marie that he was leaving football for the [[Army]].

*His words from an interview the day after the attacks of September 11th, 2001, speak for themselves: {{cquote|

*His words from an interview the day after the attacks of September 11, 2001, speak for themselves: {{cquote|

'''"At times like this you stop and think about just how good we have it, what kind of system we live in, and the freedoms we are allowed. A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars and I really haven't done a d--n thing".''' <ref>[http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pat_az_cardinals.php Arizona Cardinals] Pat Tillman Foundation</ref>

'''"At times like this you stop and think about just how good we have it, what kind of system we live in, and the freedoms we are allowed. A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars and I really haven't done a d--n thing".''' <ref>[http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pat_az_cardinals.php Arizona Cardinals] Pat Tillman Foundation</ref>

}}

}}

==Death==

==Death==

The military's handling of his death as a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan spawned controversy. Originally he was reported as having been killed by enemy combatants, but later it emerged he was killed by [[friendly fire]]. It is standard military policy to investigate friendly fire incidents thoroughly before revealing any details. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37679-2004Dec5_2.html Army Spun Tale Around Ill-Fated Mission] Washington Post, December 6, 2004</ref> Charges of cover-up by his unit and his superiors surfaced. The incident attracted extra attention because the soldier had been a well-known professional athlete, and also because his death was controversial and the hostile [[liberal]] media wanted to attack any bad news of the [[Bush administration]]. After three-years of investigations his death was ruled a "friendly fire" incident, also known as fratricide.

The military's handling of his death as a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan spawned controversy. Originally he was reported as having been killed by enemy combatants, but later it emerged he was killed by [[friendly fire]]. It is standard military policy to investigate friendly fire incidents thoroughly before revealing any details.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37679-2004Dec5_2.html Army Spun Tale Around Ill-Fated Mission] Washington Post, December 6, 2004</ref> Charges of cover-up by his unit and his superiors surfaced. The incident attracted extra attention because the soldier had been a well-known professional athlete, and also because his death was controversial and the hostile [[liberal]] media wanted to attack any bad news of the [[Bush administration]]. After three-years of investigations his death was ruled a "friendly fire" incident, also known as fratricide.

A [[biography]] of Tillman, ''Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman'' by Jon Krakauer, was published by Doubleday in 2009.

A [[biography]] of Tillman, ''Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman'' by Jon Krakauer, was published by Doubleday in 2009.

*U.S. Military Purple Heart

*U.S. Military Purple Heart

==See Also==

==See also==

*[[Gallery of American Heroes]]

*[[Gallery of American Heroes]]

*[[Essay:Pat Tillman was not an atheist‎]]

*[[Essay:Pat Tillman was not an atheist‎]]

*[[Essay: Pat Tillman was DEFINITELY not an atheist]]

*[[Essay: Pat Tillman was DEFINITELY not an atheist]]

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org The Pat Tillman Foundation]

*[http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org The Pat Tillman Foundation]