MovieChat Forums > The Tillman Story (2010) Discussion > Very amazing story and very heroic man

Very amazing story and very heroic man

posted 14 years ago by Ghombie
8 replies | jump to latest

I had great respect for Pat Tillman as a man who, after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the US, chose military service instead of the charmed life of a high paid pro NFL athlete out of a sense of personal duty to ones country. Such people are rare in the world. Such soldiers would strike fear into our enemy as they turn away from a safe life to bring all their might to bear on their supposedly more commited enemy.

If he survived his tour he may well have become a political entity or at least a person of national celebrity and spokesperson for veterans concerns that had real weight. Imagine Tillman if he was wounded doing an politcal advertisement to lobby the government for better vet care. My point is he would have been an asset going forward in the US struggle with global terrorism, that is affecting all of our lives in some way or another. We needed this man, and his death as it really happened is a true tragedy.

The quality of this persons character could be called heroic in my opinion.

At the time of his death the news spin was that he was killed by Taliban/AQ fighters in some valley ambush scenario. For me, this seemed to reinforce that even our best and brightest soldiers are not enough to defeat a fiercer and more committed enemy. The terroristic effect of Americas enemy in the form of scary news propoganda. This propaganda brought to us by our own government.

The misleading information and covering up by the interested groups involved in this incident are responsible for a deeply grave offence against their own government and people. The arrogance of officials who dealt with Tillmans mother as she pursued more information on her sons death is indicative of an institutional entity that has lost its sense in a basic fundamental way.

It was misleading and callous to try and cover up a tragic death that appears was avoidable and then use falsehoods about the event as propoganda to either instill fear and/or anger in the news watching population.

Such manipulation of peoples lives and deaths and to gullible non critical thinking peoples fears is deeply offensive to me. The human beings who carry these types of "operations" out must not believe in a hell, I am convinced of this. The exposure of this coverup, while shocking and painful for some, is also a vital reality check for our government and society needs to go through. The freedom of press is the usual vehicle for this crucial reality check. It seems though that the Tillman family had to lead the investigative charge here instead of our mainstream "Liberal" media, who seemed to snooze on a huge "scoop".

Our Constitutional 1st Ammendment right to free speech and our rights to demand information from our Government (FoIA) are two very vital components in our system of government to correct itself of such lowly conduct as the Tillman story portrays and reveals (havent watched the film yet but read a review). Suppressing such powers in a society while convenient for a leadership class in the society to "operate" in order to reach its "noble" goals for the common good, is sure to end in disaster in each and every case of its occurence. Suppressing such voices and intents is a threat to basic human freedom in the US society and it happens and must be challenged and checked.

I would like it very much if the news media companies and politicians and officials in our government would stop doing such things as we see documented in this persons "life and death story" movie. The fact that the political fallout and staining the whole affair finally came out has allowed the whole world to see how it is wrong to mislead and manipulate a population using peoples lives to try and cheat the job of running a true democracy.

Ghombie® = Ghost Zombie

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Ghombie 14 years ago

Yep I am damaged by the events of the last 10 years. I never thought we could fall so low but I guess I was just naive. Ill never be the same. Dont worry, I am destroyed inside. You win.

[–] MetalgearSldSnk 14 years ago

I think you should grow up, Ghombie. No such thing as heroes in this world.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Thought_Criminal_J62377 11 years ago

I'm not here to bash Tillman but after watching this documentary, I have to ask, did anyone else think Tillman made a mistake by climbing the hill to get to his fellow soldiers? Wouldn't that make them think his squad were the enemy? Because they believed they were receiving fire from atop the rocks if I understood correctly. It appears to me that bad decisions were made by EVERYONE. If I misunderstood please let me know. My understanding was that he wanted to go up and over the ridge to get there quicker. I also think Tillman was a macho, thrill-seeker, so I kinda don't think it's 100% honest to present his motivation as wanting to serve his country. I got the impression that proving his manhood was a large part of it.

[–] Calabashe 11 years ago

The circumstances of that lead up to the event are not clear to me as to who said and did what. I have only the film for reference.

I also think Tillman was a macho, thrill-seeker, so I kinda don't think it's 100% honest to present his motivation as wanting to serve his country. I got the impression that proving his manhood was a large part of it.

I can dispute that. On the gridiron, Pat let out his primal inner animal but off field, I never met a more humble and honest guy, contrary to the Krakauer fairytale. Even what mischief he got into was not malicious - like climbing the towers of ASU's stadium.

Pat had nothing to prove to anyone in terms of machismo. The last time we spoke was in the summer of 2001. Pat was a true patriot. He often got visibly emotional at the game start playing of the national anthem. I have no doubts his intentions were patriotic. I might also guess, having made the decision, Pat would have seen the Army as one last great adventure before settling in to raise babies.

[–] lysergic-acid 7 years ago

Sure, if he were in communication with the other serial and knew what they were thinking, then he might not have scaled the hill. But he didn't have that info and so reasonably sought to render aid to them via the most expedient and advantageous path. As the other ranger noted, their elevated position would have allowed them to wipe out the other squad (or any would-be Taliban who were attacking the second serial) if they'd chosen to do so.

Given that the other serial were basically just shooting at whatever they saw (even after Pat popped smoke and shouted at them and never let off a single round toward them), it wouldn't have mattered from which direction Pat's men came from. If they'd come from the road, on level ground, it's more likely the entire squad would have been wiped out. At least from the top of the hill, they had some cover and put the attacking vehicle (and it's .50 cal) at a disadvantageous firing position.

So, realistically, the only other choice available that would have made any bit of positive difference is if they simply stayed put after the explosion and didn't try to help in any way. In that particular instance, it would have worked to everyone's benefit, though if that sort of mentality were widespread or became policy, the military would quickly lose morale and collapse.