Pat Tillman, a Great American Patriot!


  • February 26, 2008
    logo of Pat's Run
  • Save-the-Date for Pat's Run 2008
    April 19, 2008 and May 3, 2008
    The next Pat's Run is coming up soon! The 2008 event dates have been set for Tempe, Arizona on Saturday, April 19th with a 7a.m. start and for San Jose, California on Saturday, May 3rd with an 8a.m. start. Register now at www.patsrun.com. Bring the whole family and enjoy the expo with food, refreshments, and live music. Don't forget, kids under 12 race for free on the 0.42 mile course.


  • April 21, 2006
    Plummer helps honor Tillman in 'Pat's Run'
    Race in Pat Tillman's honor raises $350,000
    Like Tillman, foundation is committed
    A sea of support for Tillman
          More than 10,000 take part in second annual Pat's Run

  • April 14, 2006
    2 Years After Soldier's Death, Family's Battle Is With Army
    By MONICA DAVEY and ERIC SCHMITT
    New York Times - Published: March 21, 2006

    SAN JOSE, Calif. — Patrick K. Tillman stood outside his law office here, staring intently at a yellow house across the street, just over 70 yards away. That, he recalled, is how far away his eldest son, Pat, who gave up a successful N.F.L. career to become an Army Ranger, was standing from his fellow Rangers when they shot him dead in Afghanistan almost two years ago.

    Grapic on Tillman ambush "I could hit that house with a rock," Mr. Tillman said. "You can see every last detail on that place, everything, and you're telling me they couldn't see Pat?"

    Mr. Tillman, 51, is a grieving father who has refused to give up on his son. While fiercely shunning the public spotlight that has followed Cpl. Pat Tillman's death, Mr. Tillman has spent untold hours considering the Army's measurements, like the 70 yards. He has drafted long, sometimes raw, letters to military leaders, demanding answers about the shooting. And he has studied — and challenged — Army PowerPoint presentations meant to explain how his son, who had called out his own name and waved his arms, wound up dead anyway, shot three times in the head by his own unit, which said it had mistaken him for the enemy.

    "All I asked for is what happened to my son, and it has been lie after lie after lie," said Mr. Tillman, explaining that he believed the matter should remain "between me and the military" but that he had grown too troubled to keep silent.

    As the second anniversary of the death of Corporal Tillman, once a popular safety for the Arizona Cardinals, approaches, Mr. Tillman, his former wife, Mary, and other family members remain frustrated by the Army's handling of the killing but for the first time may be close to getting some of the answers they so desperately seek.

    After repeated complaints from the Tillmans and members of Congress contacted by them, the Army is immersed in a highly unusual criminal investigation of the killing, and the Defense Department's inspector general, which called for the criminal investigation this month, is looking separately into the Army's conduct in its aftermath.

    Senior military officials said Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld had expressed outrage to top aides that the Army was having to conduct yet another inquiry into the shooting, prolonging the family's anguish and underscoring the failure of the Army's investigative processes to bring resolution.

    Gary Comerford, a spokesman for the inspector general, said the Army Criminal Investigation Command was "dealing with events leading up to the death, and we're looking at anything after that." Though Mr. Comerford did not say so, that could include the possibility of a cover-up, the Tillmans said they had been told by the inspector general's office.

    No one wants answers more than the Tillmans. But by now, they said, they have lost patience and faith that any Army entity, even the Criminal Investigation Command, can be trusted to find the truth.

    "I am sitting here on my own, going over and over and over this for two years," Ms. Tillman, 50, said in a telephone interview. "The whole thing is such a debacle. I am beyond tears. It's killing me."

    Like her former husband, she has spent days reading the files, researching the episode, calling members of Congress, even trying to contact some of the soldiers involved. She criticized the military, as well as the news media, for failing to get to the bottom of what occurred, leaving her family, in essence, to figure it out themselves.

    All of it, her former husband said, has even left him suspicious of the military's central finding in their son's case so far: that the killing was a terrible but unintentional accident.

    "There is so much nonstandard conduct, both before and after Pat was killed, that you have to start to wonder," Mr. Tillman said. "How much effort would you put into hiding an accident? Why do you need to hide an accident?"

    An examination by The New York Times of more than 2,000 pages of documents from three previous Army administrative reviews reveals shifting testimony, the destruction of obvious evidence in the case and a series of contradictions about the distances, the lighting conditions and other details surrounding the shooting.

    Seven Rangers have received administrative disciplines — a pay cut, a loss of rank or a return to the rank-and-file Army — but the criminal inquiry is for the first time examining whether the soldiers broke military law when they failed to identify their targets before firing on Corporal Tillman's position. The earlier reviews found that a chain of circumstances and errors had led to the deaths of Corporal Tillman and an Afghan soldier fighting alongside the Americans.

    A senior Pentagon official briefed on the criminal investigation, who was granted anonymity because he was not permitted to speak publicly while the new investigation was under way, said it would delve into highly sensitive areas.

    "The balance that investigators now have to wrestle with is how much of a crime-scene approach they can take — nearly two years after the fact — into the fog of war, where soldiers were making decisions in milliseconds," the Pentagon official said.

    Mr. Tillman spoke bluntly and angrily one afternoon here as he waded once more through the Army reports, the charts, even the details in his son's autopsy. He knows the smallest of details by heart — where his son was supposed to be standing, which way the sun was setting, what the Ranger ducking beside his son heard him call out last — and ticked them off unemotionally as he flipped through the worn reports.

    Mr. Tillman's small office, though, belies his hardened shell. His trash can, pasted with orange and green paper, was a grade school project of Pat Tillman. So was the wooden pencil holder nearby, shakily carved with the letters N.F.L. A blurry photograph in a frame showed Pat Tillman at age 2, marching off toward a lake with his signature confident stride.

    "At this point I don't believe that the facts of this case are going to come out without the serious threat of jail time hanging over some folks," Mr. Tillman said.

    The Tillman family's first glimmers of distrust began in the month after Corporal Tillman was killed, at the age of 27, on April 22, 2004.

    Within hours, military officers came to the family home here, the same house where Corporal Tillman had grown up. No one mentioned, though, that the shooting had been at the hands of his colleagues. Even Corporal Tillman's younger brother Kevin, who served in the same Ranger unit and was in a vehicle far behind the shooting and did not see what had happened, did not learn the truth for more than a month.

    Instead, eight days after Corporal Tillman's death, Army officials awarded a Silver Star and issued a news release that seemed to suggest that he had been killed by enemy fire during an ambush.

    At the end of May, as the rest of Corporal Tillman's unit was returning to the United States, the Army notified the family of what it believed really happened. In the months that followed, in private briefings for the family, the Army assured the Tillmans that a thorough investigation would be made and that those responsible would be disciplined.

    "They said they'd take care of it, and I believed them," Mr. Tillman said.

    Corporal Tillman's platoon of the Second Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, began the day that he died dealing with a minor annoyance in the southeastern part of Afghanistan where the soldiers were conducting sweeps, the Army records show: one vehicle would not start.

    The platoon split into two parts so that half the team, including Corporal Tillman, could go on to the next town for sweeps while the second half could tow the disabled vehicle to a drop-off spot.

    But both groups ended up in the same twisting canyon, along the same road, without radio communication. And after the sounds of an enemy ambush, three Rangers in the second group wound up firing at members of the first group — at an Afghan soldier who was fighting alongside Corporal Tillman, and then at Corporal Tillman.

    The Army's administrative reviews that followed, parts of which have been described previously in other newspapers, including The Washington Post and The San Francisco Chronicle, have left the Tillman family with more questions than answers, they say. Some of those involved in the shooting have provided shifting accounts of what happened, the records show.

    The decision to split the unit into two convoys, for example, was a crucial, and perhaps fatal, one. Brig. Gen. Gary M. Jones, who led the most recent of the three Army reviews, concluded that the decision was a result of "miscommunication" among several officers.

    But at least one Army officer, the records show, changed his sworn statements about which supervisor had actually ordered the split and what conversations had occurred before the order was given.

    Even the soldier who conducted the military's first review of Corporal Tillman's death — in the hours and days immediately afterward — expressed concern about the changes in the accounts.

    That soldier, whose name, like many others, was redacted from the Army files provided to The Times by Mr. Tillman, said he believed Rangers had changed their versions of what happened and were not receiving the "due just punishment" for what he concluded was "gross negligence."

    The stories, he said in a sworn statement as part of General Jones's subsequent review, "have changed to, I think, help some individuals."

    "The other difficult thing, though, was watching some of these guys getting off with what I thought was a lesser of a punishment than what they should've received," the soldier who conducted the first inquiry said.

    Among a number of conflicts in the descriptions of what happened, some Rangers said that in the dusk they could see nothing more than "shapes" and "muzzle flashes" even as Corporal Tillman tried to tell his colleagues who he was, waving his arms, setting off a smoke grenade signal and calling out. Others said they had seen and aimed for the Afghan fighter, his "dark face" and his AK-47.

    After the shooting, the Rangers destroyed evidence that would be considered critical in any criminal case, the records show. They burned Corporal Tillman's uniform and his body armor.

    Months later, the Rangers involved said they did not intend to destroy evidence. "It was a hygiene issue," one soldier wrote. "They were starting to stink."

    Another soldier involved offered a slightly different take, saying "the uniform and equipment had blood on them and it would stir emotion" that needed to be suppressed until the Rangers finished their work overseas.

    "How could they do that?" Mr. Tillman said. "That makes no sense."

    The family still wants to know, he said, what became of Corporal Tillman's diary. It was never returned to the family, he said.

    Ms. Tillman said her family could not rest until they knew what really happened. All of it, Ms. Tillman said, has left her wondering what other families who have lost service members in Iraq and Afghanistan may really know about the circumstances. In addition to Corporal Tillman, at least 16 service members have died in Afghanistan and Iraq as a result of shootings or bombings by fellow Americans, and none of the deaths, so far, have led to criminal convictions.

    "This is how they treat a family of a high-profile individual," she said. "How are they treating others?"

    Col. Joseph Curtin, an Army spokesman, said the Tillmans deserved answers.

    "We deeply regret their loss," Colonel Curtin said, "and will continue to answer their questions in a truthful and forthright manner."

    Photo of Pat Tillman
  • April 8, 2006
    Tillman's legacy lives on through students - Article by James Schmel - April 6, 2006
  • Races set to honor Pat Tillman - Article from SI - March 28, 2006

  • March 21, 2006
    Another Pat Tillman Investigation - This is really getting ugly. Why can't the government do the right thing? Oh, yes, I forgot, they have to cover themselves so they don't look incompetent. It's not working.

    Pat Tillman's Mom Seeks Truth - CBS News - March 13, 2006

    Get Pat Tillman's Story Right - Seattle Post Intellegencer Mar 10, 2006

    Army to launch criminal investigation into Pat Tillman case - USA Today - Mar 5, 2006

    Former NFL Player Jeremy Staat Follows in Pat Tillman's Footsteps - The National Ledger - Mar 13, 2006

  • January 9, 2006
    The Pat Tillman Foundation is sponsoring two events to benefit the foundations Leadership Through Action Initiative. For more information and registration go to http://www.patsrun.com.
    The events are:
    • Saturday, April 15, 2006 at Arizona State Univerity in Tempe, AZ
    • Sunday, April 30, 2006 at Leland High School in San Jose, CA
    The inaugural run last year raised over $150,000 for the foundation with over 6000 people participating as runners or volunteers.

    Other Features of Oh Wow Look at This.com:
  • December 31, 2004
    Here is a link to the Pat Tillman Foundation formed by his family. They contacted us at "Oh Wow Look at This.com" and requested contributions that will be used in their Leadership Through Service program. This program provides the inspiration, tools, and experience to help tomorrow's leaders identify problems and social ills that touch them, develop potential solutions to those problems, test the solutions, and ultimately implement those solutions with funding from the Foundation or community.

  • Sunday, September 19, 2004, the Arizona Cardinals paid tribute to Pat Tillman during halftime at the game against the New England Patriots.

    Contact "Oh Wow Look at This" with your thoughts on Pat Tillman

  • I am sure the NFL will pay tribute to Pat Tillman at some point. I have mixed emotions about this. Tribute should be paid to him...absolutely. The NFL should not look at him as being representative of NFL players because he was so far superior to everyone else. He was the only one out of over 1200 players to join the military after 911. THE ONLY ONE. The rest of the players thought about their own personal gain and careers first and foremost. Do you realize that at least one player actually criticized Pat Tillman. Dan Patrick mentioned this on his radio show back in April but no one else mentions it in order to protect the NFL. Write to me if you want to know who the player was. Just like the HBO show that depicted life in the NFL (I can't remember the name of it). It was hughly successful but the NFL knew that it made the league look bad. So, it was quietly cancelled. If you listen to the police reports on NFL players, you know that the show did represent what happens in the NFL.

      Never forget 911
      Support Our Troops

    May 21, 2004
    • There is no question in my mind that Pat Tillman was a great American, however, never forget that he is only one of thousands, or tens of thousands of brave soldiers who left their normal life-style to fight terrorism in order to preserve our way of life for future generations of Americans.       
    May 10, 2004
    • Donate to the Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund

        This Fund provides unrestricted grants to the families of military personnel who have given their lives in the current operations in defense of our country. The gifts, $10,000 to each dependent family and an additional $5,000 per child, are intended to help these families through any immediate or long-term financial difficulties they may face. This gift is made quietly and without fanfare, to protect the privacy of the families. Our goal is to support them in their time of need, and to ensure that they know that our nation appreciates the sacrifice they have made for us.

    May 4, 2004
    • If anyone knows of other reputable foundations for making donations to the families of servicepersons killed in action, please contact me.

    • Aid for Servicemen Killed in Action - Fox Article

    • Donations to the Pat Tillman Foundation should be sent to
      P.O. Box 20053, San Jose, CA 95160
      The Tillman family stated that "This foundation will continue his legacy."

    May 3, 2004

    May 2, 2004
    April 23, 2004

    Pat Tillman Reported Killed in Afghanistan!

         At 10:30 this morning (April 23, 2004) I heard the report that Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan. My condolences go out to his parents, and the rest of his family. We have lost truly a wonderful, humble, American hero.

    Here are some articles from the Sports Illustrated, San Francisco Chronicle, Bloomberg, and the Seattle Times

    Here is an article on him winning the Arthur Ashe ESPY Award


                  Never forget 911
                  Support Our Troops


                   Send us your thoughts on this if you care to. I personally am sad beyond words losing a person of his caliber. He is something special and I will always remember his tremendous courage and patriotism.


    Original "Oh Wow Look at This" article on Pat Tillman - December 2002

    Pat Tillman for NFL MVP!

     A nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover pro football are responsible for selecting players for the coveted Most Valuable Player award. In normal times, you weigh some of the factors below and come up with candidates.

    • Is it someone who has the best personal statistics for his position...but his team loses?
    • Is it someone who is an inspirational leader but does not have the best statistics and his team is very successful?
    • Is it someone who has great statistics and his team wins the Super Bowl?
    • Or, is it someone who shows that he loves his country more than making a million dollars a year, shuns all publicity and who joins the military to serve his country in an era that desperately needs a new generation of heroes?

    I am sure you heard that Pat Tillman walked away from a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals to join the US Army Rangers. Sportswriters talk about players in a variety of sports who may not have the best statistics, but they get consideration in MVP voting because of the inspiration they give their team to help them succeed. I would say that Pat Tillman's actions have been an inspiration to an entire country. Shouldn't that count for something?

    If Pat Tillman receives some votes for MVP, it will makes a profound statement to the American public of the value of the real heroes of life, not what happens on the football field, but the people who serve our country. You talk about "role models" in the sports world. Who do you think are the true role models in our country. Pat Tillman and other men and women put their lives on the line, so that we may be a free and strong nation. Remember that these people have family and loved ones and they chose to support our nation rather than to enjoy the good life that we all take for granted.

    I certainly do not expect Pat Tillman to win....after all, this is pro sports and there is too much ego, money, and prestige at stake. But, when it comes time to vote for the MVP this year, wouldn't you love to see Pat Tillman's name on the list of players who received votes? It would be FANTASTIC!

    For more articles on Pat Tillman, go to the following web sites:

      Here is a great article by Tom Barnidge of the NFL Insider at http://www.nfl.com/insider/story/5701425


    Oh, bye the way, let's give some credit to his parents for doing such a great job with their two sons. Younger brother, Kevin, a minor league prospect for the Cleveland Indians, also joined the Rangers.