Pat Tillman
American Footballer
Died when: 27 years 168 days (329 months)Star Sign: Scorpio
Patrick Daniel Tillman Jr. (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004) was an American professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) who left his sports career and enlisted in the United States Army in May 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
His service in Iraq and Afghanistan, and subsequent death, were the subject of national attention when he was killed in action as a result of accidental friendly fire.
Tillman joined the Army Rangers and served several combat tours before he was killed in the mountains of Afghanistan.At first, the Army reported that Tillman had been killed by enemy fire.
Controversy ensued when a month later, on May 28, 2004, the Pentagon notified the Tillman family that he had been killed by fire from his own side.
The family and other critics allege that the Department of Defense delayed the disclosure until weeks after Tillman's memorial service out of a desire to protect the image of the U.S. military.
Tillman was the first professional football player to be killed in combat since Bob Kalsu, who died in the Vietnam War in 1970.
Tillman was posthumously promoted from specialist to corporal.He also posthumously received the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
