[antimedia] antimedia: This is painful for me....

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by antimedia:
This is painful for me....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1161323213.shtml


   ....but it's necessary. ESPN has released [1]part 1 of their
   investigation into the fratricide of Pat Tillman in Afghanistan.
   Fratricide happens in every war, unfortunately, and Tillman's death is
   very similar to the death of my dear cousin, Donald, in Vietnam.
   When Donald was in Vietnam, he was involved in an operation in A Shau
   valley (known "affectionately" as Hamburger Hill because of the many
   bloody battles fought there) to break through enemy lines and resupply
   Marines who had been fighting there for three weeks. During the
   operation, a number of men from his unit were killed and wounded.
   After they returned to their base camp, a group of green recruits were
   brought in to replace the killed and wounded.
   Not too long after that, Donald was point man on a recon mission when
   their unit was ambushed. The new recruits, who had never been under
   fire, panicked and opened up, without thinking about who was located
   where (known as a lack of muzzle discipline.) Donald was killed by
   multiple shots to the back. He died in the chopper as he was being
   medivaced. (I attended Donald's funeral just three days before I
   entered boot camp.)
   Tillman died under similar circumstances. It doesn't make his death
   any less meaningful. He died in service to our country, having put his
   life on the line willingly, just as Donald had. It doesn't make his
   death any less painful to his family either. In fact, it can generate
   tremendous anger if you don't understand how the military works and
   how guys can end up being killed by their own buddies.
   I understand why the Tillmans are angry, but their son is dead.
   They'll live with that for the rest of their lives no matter what the
   outcome of any investigation is. And they'll cry, just as I do, every
   time they think of the loved one they lost to the meatgrinder of war.
   (Hat tip to [2]Joe Katzman.)

References

   1. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=tillmanpart1
   2. http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/009147.php