Boots on the Ground by Dusk

My Tribute to Pat Tillman

By: Mary Tillman, Narda Zacchino

Narrated by: Mary Tillman

Pat Tillman was seen by many as an American hero. A star college football player turned pro, he walked away from a multimillion-dollar NFL contract after the 9/11 attacks, choosing to enlist in the U.S. Army. He graduated from their elite Ranger school and was deployed to Iraq in 2003. On April 22, 2004, Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan. The administration and the Pentagon immediately portrayed his death as the result of a dramatic gun battle with the enemy, and Pat was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and a promotion in recognition of his bravery. But as would later emerge, Army officials were all along hiding the truth: Pat was killed by his fellow Rangers. The Tillmans discovered this fact five weeks after Pat's death, and six separate investigations have since been launched, largely due to the family's passionate insistence. But even now, the true circumstances remain murky and fraught with contradictions.

Here is Mary Tillman's story, as she describes her attempts to uncover the truth about what happened to Pat and why the government went to such great lengths to keep the circumstances secret. In the process, she paints an indelible portrait of her son, a man of remarkable character who followed a set of guiding principles that ultimately led him to Afghanistan and, in death, into the hearts and minds of people all over the world.

Written to coincide with the release of the feature film The Tillman Story, Mary Tillman’s explosive new foreword describes her family's ongoing appeals to President Obama, the Pentagon, and members of Congress to get to the bottom of what happened and hold accountable the senior military officials responsible for the cover-up of Pat's death.

©2008 Mary Tillman with Narda Zacchino (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"McChrystal's actions should have been grounds for firing. That is why it was so disturbing to us when President Obama instead promoted McChrystal to the position of top commander in Afghanistan.... On June 22, 2010, General Stanley McChrystal was forced to retire after remarks he and his staff made to a Rolling Stone reporter, Michael Hastings. I found myself feeling strangely validated." (Mary Tillman)

"Moving, powerful, and overwhelmingly distressing." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Baker is Iago

Disturbing and real. After reading Krakauer’s “Where Men Win Glory” I wanted to hear from the family. This book lays it out. In the end, I am left with deep burning questions and would like an opportunity to waterboard the Rangers in the fight. To many questions and answers that involve inexcusable acts for a Ranger stick. My bet / Baker & Co killed the AMF soldier. Tillman went off on Baker and Co and threatened to turn them in. A fight ensues Baker or one of the others smoked Tillman at close range with a 3-round burst. This is the only explanation for the 3-rounds in a tight group on the forehead. That is vertically impossible to do at 100 yard shooting off-hand in the physiological dynamics of a combat scenario. Must have been someone else’s blood or other evidence on his clothing - the fight with someone - why else burn the clothes. I can’t get it out of my head. In uniform, shouting, waiving arms, popping PURPLE smoke. I’m guessing there was a throw down after they shot the Afghani and it went south from there. This was a Homicide.

courage to achieve

Tillman. Thank you for you courage to both pursue truth and the narration of this work. Thank you for sharing the story how you did.

Thank you for Pat.

AZ native typing here.. I watched PT go off on the Huskers, epic, jumping up and down. Epic like he was on and off the football field. I admired him so much.

OUTSTANDING

This is an incredible book and Mary Tillman does an outstanding job narrating this great truth. It's my opinion that this book should be required reading for every government class in America.

Amazing

loved it as it's is a very true and sad story of a great man's life and his family.

sad

Great book and I was moved that his Mom was the narrarator. She was moving and it meant more hearing it from her. This is not a feel good book but she tells it like it is.

Heartbreaking

I was young when the story of Pat Tillman initially happened so I was unaware of his story until this year. Raised a proud patriotic American, I was extremely naive about the darker side of the military. This story is truly heartbreaking but important information for people to understand. The truth and accountability is what is right and I admire the family’s dedication and strength to fight for that.

This is a very moving and emotional book.

It does mean a lot to have Mary Tillman reading the book, because it does share a lot of private details and I'm sure it was hard for her. I can't find the words to give this book the review it deserves. It is very well written. I would recommend this book.

Heartbreaking Story

I had watched The Tillman Story documentary before listening to this book. The book contains much more information and is definitely a great add on to the documentary. It covers what was in the documentary and much more. Mary Tillman, Pat Tillman's mother, is the narrator and it is just heartbreaking at some points to listen to her talk about what happened to her son. This book is both the story of a deep sense of loss felt by a fallen soldier's family members and the great lengths members of our government went to so they could spin incompetence, ego and possible malice into an heroic event that never happened.

Travesty, dissapoint, and hope

Pat Tillman's life was heroic before he put his football career on hold and enlisted in the Army becoming a Ranger. The travesty his family was forced to endure in an effort to find the truth is mindboggling. My hope is that Ms. Tillman found a small amount of peace in putting this down on paper, and in knowing she raised such a wonderful family of sons.

Great read

The only thing I noticed is in the table of contents. The chapter numbers are off.