The 9/11 incident laid waste to a lot of lives and what ensued in the aftermath was nothing less than a devastating monstrosity. It claimed several lives and the following war brought more loss and grief. Out of all the young faces who laid down their lives for their country, Pat Tillman gave up his glittering NFL career to conscript himself in the US army.
Sadly, for Tillman, he lost his life a couple of years later under mysterious circumstances. Reports stated that he lost his life after being shot in an ambush. There were other reports too which stated that Tillman was killed in friendly fire and in order to avert the blame the US Army changed the narrative. Keeping aside the controversy, Pat Tillman has always been hailed as a hero for the United States. Adam Schefter honoured him with an amazing tweet and posted, “No. 40 would have been 45 years old today. RIP…”
A brief glimpse at what really happened to Pat Tillman
Life is very unpredictable and Pat Tillman’s demise was a blazing ode to the maxim. He was awarded the Silver Star posthumously in 2004. He played out a successful career in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals and was deemed as one of the most reliable names to be posted in your echelons.
The CID report that was penned in the wake of his death stated, “… during their movement through the canyon road, Serial 2 [Tillman’s platoon had to split up because of a broken HMMWV; the parts were called Serial 1 and 2] was ambushed and became engaged in a running gun battle with enemy combatants. Serial 1 [Tillman’s portion of the platoon] had just passed through the same canyon without incident and were approximately one kilometer ahead of Serial 2. Upon hearing explosions, gunfire, and sporadic radio communication from Serial 2, Serial 1 dismounted their vehicles and moved on foot, to a more advantageous position to provide overwatch and fire support for Serial 2’s movement out of the ambush. Upon exiting the gorge, and despite attempts by Serial 1 to signal a “friendly position”, occupants of the lead vehicle of Serial 2 opened fire on Tillman’s position, where he was fatally shot.”
Alongside the Silver Star, he was also transcended to the position of a corporal and to date, he is deemed as a national hero. Though no one knows how he really died, the fact that he lived out a life filled with honour and glory is a legacy in itself. The number 40 of the Cardinals would have turned 45 a day ago.
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