When You Kill A Fellow Soldier: The Death of Pat Tillman

Most don’t wear their struggles on the outside. We keep them buried. But we all struggle with something. Unfortunately, some allow those struggles and the difficult experiences to shape and define who they are – and that becomes a heavy weight to carry.

Imagine if you were most-likely responsible for the death of a fellow soldier…that’s tough. Hard. And what if that soldier was American Hero Pat Tillman. For those who don’t recall who Pat Tillman was, he was America’s hero. He turned down a $3.6 million NFL football contract in favor of military service.  He became a media and American hero overnight – who leaves a multi-million dollar NFL gig to join the Army for such little pay? He was the perfect recruiting hero for the Army as well – and even better that he became a Ranger.

And on April 22, 2004 the narrative changed.

Pat was struck in the head with multiple rounds. His body armor did no good.

Steven Elliott, author of War Story, shares how he worked through being one of two most likely responsible for Pat Tillman’s death.

Steven Elliott joined the military in 2003 and served as a member of the elite 75^th Ranger Regiment. In 2004, he deployed to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In the midst of enemy ambush, he was one of four Rangers who mistook Pat Tillman’s position for that of the enemy and fired there.  But after the investigation, it was determined that he was one of two individuals responsible for the shot that ended Pat Tillman’s life.

Steven allowed that experience to grip him – turned to alcohol, lost his marriage, lost hope. But his story doesn’t end there – it doesn’t end with a tragic suicide of someone consumed by his past actions; his story is a story of renewal – of overcoming. Each one of us is capable of breaking free from our past when we move from HOW to get through something to WHO can help me get through it.

In our podcast interview, Steven shares his personal encounter with war and faith, love and tragedy, and what he did to come out the other side shaped but not defined by his past.

Steven will be at Sozo Wine in Sea-Tac Washington to share his story and sign books on Saturday, JUNE 22, 2019. If you need hope, or just want to show support, this event is for you. Get your tickets – space is limited.

Bottom line: your past doesn’t have to define you and keep you captive. If you have ever struggled with the experiences of your past, find a friend. Your mess can be part of your message that will inspire hope in someone else.

Michael J.R. Schindler

The Military Wire, hosted by Mike Schindler, interviews some of America’s most elite men and women who have served this country in hopes that you the listener will gain an “ah-ha” moment that will help you move your life forward.

Mike is a US Navy Veteran, an award-winning author, and has been featured on Yahoo Finance, the Boston Globe, NY Post, USA Today, Q13 Fox, and numerous other media outlets discussing why today’s Veterans are truly one of America’s Greatest Assets. Mike is the author of two highly endorsed books, “Operation Military Family: How Military Couples are Fighting to Preserve their Marriages,” and “U.S. Veterans in the Workforce: Why the 7% are America’s Greatest Asset.”

www.operationmilitaryfamily.com