Pat Tillman personified overachievement.

And determination.

And what it means to sacrifice for your country.

It was reported Friday morning that Tillman, 27, who walked away from a $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals in 2002 to join the U.S. Army (salary: $1,800 per month), was killed in action as part of the 75th Ranger Regiment, an elite special-operations unit in the largely forgotten ongoing battles of Afghanistan.

Tillman cited the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks as his sole reason for dropping football in the prime of his career. Known as one of the most reckless hitters ever in the history of his position of strong safety, Tillman always took the fight to his opponents. He saw Afghanistan as another way to do that.

Tillman, 1977-2004 Tillman 'probably' killed by friendly fire Public memorial service held in hometown Tillman posthumously awarded Silver Star College columnist sorry for rip job NW: A hero's life Olbermann: A face to the war on terror Concha: Another true American hero Athletes spend less time on battlefields Death prompts Kalsu memories Ex-NFL star Tillman killed in Afghanistan

Tillman did not conduct any interviews with the press before going off to the Army. Upon arriving there, he asked his superiors not to give him any special treatment whatsoever. Said Cardinals safety Kwamie Lassiter after Tillman told the team he was leaving for the military, "It's the type of guy he is: 'What else can I do to help somebody?'"

Tillman’s intentions to leave the violent life of the National Football League in favor of the potentially fatal life of Army Ranger mirrored that of Bob Feller, the Hall of Fame pitcher for the Cleveland Indians from 1936-1956. During World War II, Feller received a deferment to take care of his ailing father, his mother and his sister. But after Pearl Harbor shocked the country, Feller enlisted in the Navy two days later.

During World War II it was common for star athletes to enlist in the armed services. In total, 638 NFL players fought in World War II, 19 coming home in body bags.

One lost in action was University of Iowa Heisman trophy winner Nile Kinnick, who won the award after the 1939 season. He was killed trying to land a disabled fighter plane in the Caribbean.

Angelo Bertelli, the 1943 Heisman trophy winner out of Notre Dame, was more fortunate, participating in several operations as a Marine but surviving to return home.

Another was Jack Lummus, New York Giants, at Iwo Jima. After losing both legs, he reportedly told medics: “Well, it looks like the Giants have lost a good end.” He died that night. Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Al Blozis, of the New York Giants, was killed two weeks after he was shipped to France. Considered prospect for Olympic gold after setting a collegiate shot put record at Georgetown University.

Ted Williams might have been the home run record holder Barry Bonds would be chasing if not for his service in World War II and the Korean War. After being labeled unpatriotic by fans after receiving a draft deferment to take care of his mother, Williams joined the military a year after hitting .406 and became a fighter pilot.

Rocky Blier is the most recent star pro athlete to serve in a major war, Vietnam. The former Notre Dame star was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and two campaign medals after sniper fire and shrapnel from a grenade severely wounded both feet and legs.

Despite being told by doctors he would never play again, he went on to play for 12 years for the Pittsburgh Steelers and helped win four Super Bowls. Blier has since been involved with the Intrepid Foundation’s Fallen Heroes Fund, which provides $10,000 gifts for families who have lost a member in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One professional football player died in the Vietnam War: Bob Kalsu, an offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills, served in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division and was killed by North Vietnamese mortar fire.

It is believed that Tillman is the first active NFL player to leave the game voluntarily for military service since World War II. Just being called a “former NFL star” is extraordinary when it comes to Tillman, who should not even have made it on to a NFL roster if advanced scouting means anything. Overall, the Cardinals selected Tillman with the 226^th pick out of 241 in 1998. Five months later, he was the Cardinals' starting safety.

If football wasn’t going to work out for Tillman, he could always fall back on a marketing degree he earned with a 3.84 grade-point average in 3½ years.

Athletes are called heroes all of the time by those in the press box.

But in terms of the true definition of the word, Pat Tillman was truly brave, truly noble, and most of all, a true American hero that kids and adults alike should look up to. 

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