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In Reply to: RE: 'The Tillman Story' posted by Prisoners on June 21, 2011 at 06:52:53
But my mom's first cousin was reported missing in action when his freighter was sunk by a U-Boat off the coast of Africa. Years went by and his mom received a postcard from Australia in the early 50's written and signed by him saying he would be home for Christmas with presents for everyone. He never showed and they wrote one of our senators to launch an investigation. Stennis wrote Australia and correspondence went back and forth and a witness was located. The resultant letter to his mom went something like this: ".....after a week at sea with no land in sight your son, whose health was slipping, bravely gave up his water and food rations to the rest of the crew. When he passed they slipped his body overboard committing it to the sea." Everybody bought it. He had been missing since '43 and that seem to be all they needed.
Ten years ago I was thinking about this and had a "WTF" moment. That's what they said about everybody in the Merchant Marine who was missing. For all I know he could have been screaming, "I don't want to die! Gimme your food, gimme your water!" Then somebody knocked him in the head and put him overboard.
Of course, Billy wasn't anybody. His death wouldn't mean anything to the war effort. He was just another schlub who died quietly trying to do the right thing.
Unfortunately, the ME was not turning out heroes. They had to be created not recognized. Tillman's mom should have given it a rest after it became obvious that it was friendly fire. And, shame on the military for creating heroes when they aren't.
Follow Ups:
..we might still think he died as was first reported.
Baba-Booey to you all!
.
Systematic government coruption and dishonesty is actually a bad thing for demoncracy. It's good to expose it.
Do you really think it's a good idea to let the people in charge of soldier's lives lie about the facts surrounding a combat death or invent stories to glorify it? Tell me that I mistook what I think you mean...
Baba-Booey to you all!
... "Catch 22" tried to reveal all along.
I'd guess Heller "fictionalized" what has been know about and done for eons, let alone WWII and recent memory.
It's the "glory of war" story that misleads every generation past individual fears and into a collective "anesthesia" that corrupts societal reason in order to kill its own kind.
...and it's almost always the case that those who propogate a war have never served and have nothing to lose.
Baba-Booey to you all!
But it seems they were on a political vendetta for something that occurs during any war. It was quite clear that Pat didn't want to be glorified in Arlington Cemetery or used as a prop but it did happen. I thought the congressional hearing to be more of an embarrassment for the Tillman's than the government. The Jessica Lynch episode was an outright stage play that should have had far reaching implications but because she was no celebrity and alive it didn't happen.
That happens in every war as you said. His family was lied to and his death was glorified by the government for no other reason than to advance the cause of our involvement or protect the incompetent leaders responsible.
The family's response was to correct the falsehoods and expose the people who propagated the myth. There's no shame in being killed by accident in a combat zone, and being killed by enemy fire doesn't make a soldier's death any easier to accept. It's a terrible action no matter how it unfolds and being deceitful should never be tolerated. Watching Rumsfeld and his yes-men evade the questions and duck responsibility was an outrage, and the embarrassment should be theirs.
Pat Tillman, Jennifer Lynch, The Alberto Martinez fragging trial, The Battle of Wanat..all examples of how the top command will stop at nothing to protect themselves by lying again and again. But according to you the victims should just accept the official story and be good little sheep.
Baba-Booey to you all!
rather than tie it up and destroy everything.
They fight the righteous fight for us all. I don't know that I would be that determined. I might, as you say, get on with my life. That makes them the better persons in my view. I am so glad that there are people like them in this world. Clearly they raised their kids well. Pat Tillman was a hero IMO. The man gave up fame and fortune to do what he thought was the right thing for our country and he paid the ultimate price. He was also patently honest and objective in his criticisms of his country's involvement in Iraq. My hat is off to the Tillmans.
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