When Pat Tillman and his brother Kevin showed up for Ranger training the army didn't know what they were getting.
Here was a star college and pro athlete who by all accounts had only dated one girl his entire life. Here was a guy who did little more with his spare time than read books; he graduated with a 3.8 average. His parents were northern California progressives, one an attorney the other an educator; they allowed no television in the house and only one landland phone in their living room. The idea of integrity was so ingrained into him that he and Kevin formed a pack to never discuss their reasons for volunteering.
He hated the idea of exploitation of him so much that not only did he sign instructions barring the government from conducting any funeral, but he secretly sent a copy to his wife fearing his instructions would be disregarded.
In training he proved to be a polarizing figure. Except for keeping to himself he adopted the smallest member of the group as his teammate so he could assist him along. Some of the more aggressive members resented his reluctance to engage in the "warrior" antics and attidude they encouraged.
At some point he started keeping a diary. With time he learned to express his views to only a small number of his fellow Rangers. Today they relate that he was disillusioned with Afghanistan altogether, and considered the Iraq mission as total FUBAR. He continued to write his thoughts in his diary.
Well before his commitment was over this situation was addressed, or attempted to be, by his commanders. They offered him the option of leaving with an honorable discharge. He declined. He insisted on completing his full commitment.
After Iraq he was re-deployed to Afghanistan. While leading a detachment of his platoon another detachment following behind his opened fire on him from about 400 yards. Then for little known reason the firing detachment began to close with his....finally ending up right on top of them at only 40 yards distance. Tillman stood out in front of them yelling, waving his arms, clearly identifying himself. They continued to fire on him until he was hit and mortally wounded. Aside from an Afghan soldier/companion next to him no other member of his detachment was hit by this fire. Only the Afghan and Tillman were killed, and after Tillman was hit the fire stopped.
After Tillman was dead on the ground his diary was taken and burned, as was his uniform and all other personal items, by his killers....fellow Rangers who dispised him.
Shortly thereafter army representatives visited his wife requesting that he be given an official funeral. Dismayed, she showed them the instructions he gave otherwise....a copy of which she wasn't known to have.
In my experience, which is a long time ago now, I slowly had to accept what I never wanted to - that sometimes in some situations our side kills its own. I've concluded that's what happened to Tillman.