Sacrifice
Posted By Russ Emerson on April 23, 2004 at 1:24 pm
Pat Tillman could have stayed home. He could have sat on the pile of money he earned for playing a game.
But no. He recognized that there were bigger things in life than football, money and fame, that there were things more important than himself. He gave up fame and fortune to serve his country, and to serve us.
Even if he had spent his entire hitch stateside in a comparatively safe military specialty, his sacrifice was greater than that of virtually everyone who has ever enlisted. Merely by signing on the dotted line, raising his hand and taking the oath, he gave up more to wear his country’s uniform than any of his fellow soldiers did.
For that sacrifice alone, he deserved praise. These days, how many others of the “rich and famous” in this country would go so far as to enlist? Have you heard of any? Are there more Ted Williams, Jimmy Stewarts or Pat Tillmans?
I haven’t heard of any. I don’t expect to hear its like any time soon. I hope I’m wrong.
Tillman could have signed on for any number of military specialties that would have been comparatively risk-free, but chose to put himself into an inherently risky specialty, as an airborne Ranger. It was his duty, he said, to give something back to the country that had enabled his great success.
He gave up fame and fortune, but he could have had that again — perhaps to a greater degree — after his service was complete.
Yesterday, though, he made the exact same sacrifice as thousands of Americans have through our history — he gave everything in the service of his country. He — and they — fight and die over there so you and I don’t have to do so over here.
Pat Tillman is undoubtedly the most famous of the soldiers we have lost in this war. Had he lived, he would have returned home after his service to great praise and fame. He would have earned it, too, merely by giving up as much as he did to serve, while no one of similar circumstances has done so.
In death, however, he surpasses the fame of those who have stayed home. People will quickly forget the names of those who are playing football this year, but Pat Tillman will be long remembered.
He has become equal to all the fallen soldiers whose passing is rarely noted by more than a headline in a hometown newspaper. Perhaps his death will serve to shine a light on the courage and sacrifices of all those who put on the uniform in the service of their country, especially those who fall in that service.
We always hope America will never need men of such quality; but we also pray that when we do need them, we will have them in abundance.
“he gave up more to wear his country’s uniform than any of his fellow soldiers did.”
I have to disagree, Russ. Although Pat Tillman was obviously a fine human being and a real patriot, every man who leaves his wife and children behind to fight for his country makes an even greater sacrafice. Fame and fortune can’t compare to a child who needs his father.
But your point is taken. How come Alec Baldwin (or name another of his ilk) isn’t fighting for freedom? I mean, besides the fact that he is a bloated piece of milquetoast? Oh, that’s right, he hates America and lives for fame and fortune. How NOBLE….not. The Hollywood bunch cannot fathom the kind of love people like Pat Tillman have for our country and its ideals.
My two cents.
I don’t think we actually disagree. He left behind a young wife, yes, as do many troops. But I was referring to the “tangibles” that he walked away from: the fame and fortune mentioned in the 2nd paragraph.
I hang my head in honor of this brave soul. God bless him and his family for making such a choice.
Statement from NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue:
“Pat Tillman personified all the best values of his country and the NFL….”
Bullshit. Pat Tillman’s values far exceeded those of the NFL. Most of the overpaid, narcissistic jerks in the NFL aren’t fit to wash Pat Tllman’s Jock Strap.
I’ve been struggling to find sufficient words to honr Pat, but I think A. Lincoln said it best:
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
I agree with your overall view, Russ; just not that one little statement in the third paragraph. No one would argue that it must have taken some serious commitment for Tillman to walk away from that lucrative contract. :)
Ya, Cara, but you’re still wrong.
When I enlisted all those years ago, what did I walk away from? Nothing. No wife or kids, no great job, no particular prospects… nothing.
Tillman left a wife behind, as do so many of our soldiers, but he also left fame and fortune (or at least, a lucrative career) behind — that’s much more than other enlistees give up. He could have played football, but instead enlisted and vigorously protected his new-found anonymity.
He gave up much just to wear the uniform. He didn’t have to. That’s a pretty straightforward statement of fact.
He then went further, and deliberately put himself into harm’s way on our behalf.
His death is neither more nor less tragic than the death of any of our troops. Ultimately, however, it puts him in the revered company of genuine heroes.
“From the battle of Marathon to Porkchop Hill (and beyond) a certain breed of men has come forth to shoulder the burdens and beliefs of their particular world.”
– Robert A. Heinlein
We live in the presence of such men, and may God bless them.
Tillman was great, no doubt. And since you agree that the man who leaves children and wife behind is making more of a sacrafice than the man who is single, the only thing you are still wrong about is your assertion that because Tillman walked away from “fame and fortune” that somehow his sacrifice was greater than that of John Doe, who put his lifelong dream of starting his own dry cleaners on hold in order to don the uniform. Why was Tillman’s sacrifice greater? Because his life path included the NFL? Lots of money? Sport Illustrated covers? Who says? John Doe’s future at the dry cleaners is just as precious as Tillman’s future was to him. Scary that you are joining the public at large by agreeing that somehow Tillman was an MVP (in this case, “more valuable person”). Yes, let’s only let the schmucks with nothing going for them die for our country. Or how about the just the ugly people? Let’s send THEM so we don’t have to feel so bad when they don’t come home. I don’t buy it. Who makes the GREATER sacrifice? I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, especially since I am tired and gotta go to bed……but we can agree that those who make the ULTIMATE sacrifice….they are heroes….yes, indeed.
No. It’s because he already had that, and gave it away.
Everyone has dreams and aspirations (or at least, I hope everyone does.) The guy who wants to open up a dry cleaner shop has a dream no less valid (and indeed, rather more realistic and attainable) than the dream of making it in the NFL.
But Tillman had already “made it,” had accomplished something that almost no one is capable of — and he sacrificed it to serve his country.
I don’t disparage “smaller” aspirations. But hopes and dreams for the future are exactly that — hopes and dreams, not yet accomplished. I would and do credit anyone who, having actually achieved their goals, walks away from them to serve the country. But sadly, there are far too few people who would make that sacrifice.
You might want to re-read the last half of the post again, especially paragraphs 8 and 11. (There will not be a quiz.)
I do not agree with the “MVP” opinion apparently held by some people. How could I? I was a soldier myself.
Once Pat Tillman had given away his former life, he was exactly equal to his comrades, sharing the same training, the same hardships, the same risks — even unto death. For that he deserves no more and no less praise than anyone who falls in the service of his country.
But maybe because of his final sacrifice, greater honor will be paid to his fellow fallen soldiers.
>>You might want to re-read the last half of the post again, especially paragraphs 8 and 11. (There will not be a quiz.)>But maybe because of his final sacrifice, greater honor will be paid to his fellow fallen soldiers.