Tom Fudge: In April 2004, Army Ranger Pat Tillman was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan. To the nation, Pat was a celebrated serviceman. He was a professional football player who sacrificed a multimillion dollar contract to serve his country. Pat was a college football standout at Arizona State, who went on to play professionally for the Arizona Cardinals. But he gave up his service career in 2002 to join the Army.
In 2004, he was shot to death as he and members of his unit were patrolling an area that was known as a haven for the Taliban. At first, the Army said he was killed by hostile fire and Tillman was celebrated as a hero. A hero he was, but it quickly became clear that the original story the Army provided was false. Tillman was killed by friendly fire. Members of Pat's family also began to discover strong evidence that members of the Army were taking steps to cover up the facts of his death.
Mary Tillman is Pat's mom, and she's written a book about her remarkable boy called Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman .
Mary Tillman will have a book signing tonight at 7pm at the Borders at 11160 Rancho Carmel Drive. She will also have a book signing at Camp Pendleton at noon on Friday, June 6th.
Guest
- Mary Tillman, mother of fallen U.S. soldier and former Arizona Cardinal football player, Pat Tillman. She is also the author of Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman .
