Remembering Pat Tillman

Seven years ago today, April 22, Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan. I remember hearing the news in my platoon bunker in Iraq and feeling stunned. This couldn't have happened. Not to him. Not to this country. Details back then were sketchy, made sketchier by a cover-up by the U.S. Army, so I wouldn't really know the details for a couple of years. Everyone knows Pat Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals safety who rejected a three-year deal worth $9 million from the Cardinals to join the United States Army with his brother, Kevin. Pat went on to complete Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA, Airborne school and Ranger school, both at Ft. Benning as well. It was at Ft. Benning that I met Pat Tillman.

After 9/11 I had made up my mind to join the Army National Guard. My reasons ranged from everything from serving my country to possibly getting some money for school. Mostly it was living out something I had wanted to do since I was a kid playing Army in the backyard. As I was gearing up to go down to Georgia for Basic Training I read about Pat Tillman, one of the up and coming safeties in the NFL rejecting $9 million to do something that few athletes do these days, serve their country in the military. He wasn't just joining the Army, he was going elite. He had signed a contract to be an Army Ranger, knowing he would see combat. I took comfort in knowing that someone like him would be doing the same thing I would be.

Getting down to Georgia was an experience. No sleep, up all day, trying not to draw the attention of the Drill Sergeants that seemed to be everywhere and hear everything. When you first arrive at Ft. Benning as a prospective infantry recruit you stay in a place called 30th AG which is where you get all the essentials, your uniform, haircut, get your pay set up, the whole nine yards waiting until you get sent "down range" to begin your training. It was at 30th AG that I would meet Pat Tillman.

My first glimpse of him came when we were lined up for chow. The Drill Sergeants called him out and busted his chops about giving up $9 million for the Army. Even though they were busting his chops you could see they had tremendous respect for the man standing in front of them. All of 30th AG, waiting in ranks for chow all looked at this man that they had only read about or saw on football fields on Sunday afternoons. There were whispers through the ranks as many talked about how cool it would be to meet him or debating amongst themselves if they would have been able to give up the money for this, standing in ranks in the July Georgia heat for food that barely qualified as such. Somehow, seeing Tillman there made it a little more bearable, it gave you something to think about.

My first meeting with Tillman came one night after evening chow when he came into our bay and started talking football and signing autographs. The crowd gathered around him and I was no different. I hastily looked for something for him to sign, the cover of my Ft. Benning stationary. He had a black Sharpie in hand and signed away. Just that simple gesture is something I will remember for the rest of my life. I hadn't been a big autograph collector at the time, in fact you could count the number of autographs I owned on one hand but I knew this one that I just received would be different. No matter whose autograph I got in subsequent years it would never equal this one. Tillman hung out for a few minutes before heading out. Those few minutes would last forever for the guys he met.

A few days later I had received a newspaper clipping from the New York Post from my aunt who had cut it out and sent it along. I took it in hand and hung on to it on the off chance I ran into Tillman. It didn't take long for me to do just that. I got his attention and he came over. I showed him the article which also featured a picture of him riding a bicycle in mini-camp. He took it, read it over quickly, and started laughing. He said he remembered the day that picture was taken and wondered why in the world they used that one. I asked him about football, specifically who he thought the toughest wide receiver to cover was. He said, "There are a lot of tough ones but the best wide receiver in the NFL, I think, is David Boston. But I'm a little biased." I asked him what he thought about the Giants receiving corps, specifically Amani Toomer, who at the time was the best WR to ever suit up for the Giants and Ike Hilliard who was still young and had potential. He said Toomer was good but Giants lacked someone to stretch the field. A couple of the guys with me also asked their questions and Pat patiently answered them before we all had to go and finish our respective business. Tillman was going "down range" the next day and I would soon follow, our paths never to cross again.

I still have the autograph, having sent it home in an envelope addressed to my father to avoid anything bad happening to it. Sadly, to get in the envelope I had to do the tri-fold so it has lost the crispness that it once had. Today, it sits in a frame, waiting for me to hang it proudly in my house. I am thinking about getting a bigger frame for it and matting it with a picture of Tillman.

I don't remember too much about Basic, most of it was a blur to me but meeting Tillman stands out among all the other memories. Seven years ago this country lost a hero, one of many American service men and women who have given their life in defense of freedom. Sadly, Tillman's life was cut short by friendly fire, a case of mistaken identity it seems. Tillman may no longer be with us but he has left us with memories and a legacy and he has given me a few fond memories to look back fondly upon. Thanks, Pat.