The Pat Tillman Story: A Look At Who Pat Tillman Was

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This notable mens article will be focusing on someone who is lesser known to most people than our last notable men article and also from a different era. We’ll be talking about Pat Tillman in this post and why he makes it into our section of notable men.

First off Pat Tillman was known for two main reasons; first reason was he played football in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals. Second he joined the army shortly after 9/11 happened and join the army rangers (Special Forces) to serve his country.

To start anyone who is able to make it through the Rangers acceptance program is considered to be tough as hell. I’ve heard on numerous accounts on how grueling the program is and it really breaks men physically/mentally. To do this already warrants my respect but we’re just getting started so strap in.

Tons of great men left joined the military after 9/11 to fight for their country which I greatly respect but Pats enlistment was much more noticeable. Pat had just turned down a three year 3.6 million dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist to where he was making under $2,000 a month.

It takes a special kind of man to be not only being able to turn down that much money but to turn it down for the purpose of going over into a hostile environment risking his life.

From the things I’ve heard about Pat, through reading and the documentary he wasn’t just a tough guy but he was very educated with opinions on just about everything with a unique outlook on life.

Patrick Tillman Documentary: The Tillman Story

This documentary is a great watch that helps give you a better idea of just who Pat Tillman was.

I wish the entire thing was just showing the greatness of the man but I know they had to talk about the controversial side of his death which I understand completely the reason for focusing on that. Without going into too much detail on it, his death looked to be a cover up of friendly fire that the government tried to spin off as he died from enemy fire.

The documentary does a great job covering this with actual recording of the trails and questioning certain people.

I highly recommend you watch the documentary, it was on Netflix when I watched it but I’ve heard it’s now on Amazon Video (Not 100% sure of this). Either way if it’s been taken off of both I would suggest you to even buy the DVD of it.

Overall I truly believe that Pat Tillman is what the definition of an Alpha Male is or should be and I hope to meet someone that compares to him at some point in my life.

Pat influenced so many people that you can find his memory just about everywhere like the Pat Tillman Veterans Center at Arizona State University being named after him and a statue of him outside of the Arizona Cardinals stadium to name a few.

Why Winston Churchill Was Known As A Great Man

Winston Churchill

Most people know of Winston Churchill through reading of history books as the leader (Prime Minister) of Britain during WW2 times. While of course this is true, the history books don’t go in depth enough on how great of a man he was.

Churchill didn’t do anything physically impressive like be a fantastic warrior or anything of that nature; his skills were more of being a great leader.

If Britain ever needed a great Prime Minister it was World War 2. Replace Churchill for a sub-par leader and there could have been a different outcome in that war.

What Did Winston Churchill Do That Was So Great?

This is one of those questions that make it so hard to describe the importance of this man because unlike most great men of history there wasn’t any special feat or battle that really brings into light of who he was as a man.

The thing that most people say that was so special about him was his speeches and ability to boost the morale of not only the country but the troops fighting in the war.

In my opinion morale is the single most important factor when it comes to fighting.

The British soldiers knowing they had a leader like Churchill back at home fighting for them, surely helped keep a strong willed mindset that would have otherwise possibly been broken if it was another leader. This was one of the major downfalls of Hitler (As A Leader) is that while he did have a lot of loyal followers he also had many that followed through fear or other reasons that were not related to overall loyalty to their leader.

Famous Winston Churchill Quotes

To say he had a way with words is an understatement. Just imagine from the few quotes I give you below of listening to him give an entire speech of phrases such as these and tell me you would not be inspired or overall have a more positive outlook than before hearing it.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen”

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

-Winston Churchill

This last quote below is my favorite and has been ever since I seen it for the first time.

“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

-Winston Churchill

The last quote really drives homes for what a lot of men struggle with in today’s time and that being tip toeing around trying not to make anyone angry even if you completely disagree with what they’re doing/saying.

What Would Winston Churchill Think Of The Brexit Vote?

With the recent Brexit voting of Britain deciding to leave the EU I figured this would make for a perfect topic on this.

I think W.C would applaud it’s citizens for realizing how bad the EU policies had become for it’s country and would be very proud of its citizens doing something to protect the country he fought so hard for.

On the other hand I think he would be literally face palming to see how bad the immigration issue had gotten there and be trying to actually figure out who/why it was allowed to get the way it had become.

What Is The Best Winston Churchill Book?

This is without a doubt The Last Lion books and yes I said books because it is a series. These cover Winston Churchill in so many ways from childhood era to when he was right in the heat of things during WW2, they cover so many aspects of his life.

If you’re not a fan out reading then no worries, they have this on audio as well.

I highly recommended these and really think you would enjoy it if you’re are genuinely interested in learning about Winston Churchill.

Final Thoughts On The British Bulldog aka Winston Churchill

Some men are blessed with being talented in the physical aspects of battle, some have the intelligence to create the tools needed to give the advantage in a fight but the far most important is having a leader to inspire and guide the people who look up to him, that is where Winston Churchill truly excelled.

Who Was Desmond Doss & What Did He Do

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Born on February 7, 1919 in Lynchburg, Virginia, Desmond Thomas Doss worked as an army corporal serving as a medic during World War II.

His parents were William Thomas Doss and Bertha Edward Doss who were Seventh-day Adventist.

Desmond grew up with his older sister named Audrey and Harold who is younger than him.

He served during World War II specifically Battle of Okinawa, Battle of Leyte and Battle of Guam.

Desmond Doss In World War II

Prior to World War II, he worked in a shipyard based in Newport News, Virginia. On April

n April 1,1942, he entered the military service and was sent in South Carolina where he had to undergo training at Fort Jackson. He became part of the 77th Infantry Division.

While he was working in 1944 in Philippines and Guam, he received a Bronze Star Medal for treating wounded soldiers. He Saved 75 wounded man in the Battle of Okinawa, who

He Saved 75 wounded man in the Battle of Okinawa, who were part of the 96th Division. The injured men were rescued on May 21, 1945. One year after, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his works in Okinawa.

One year after, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his works in Okinawa.

The gallantry and unyielding determination of Desmond Doss to go beyond the call of his duty was acknowledged by President Harry Truman himself. In

In Ryukyu Islands in Okinawa, machinegun fire, mortar and artillery crashed into the troops as they reached the peak. Despite being in a dangerous position, he still went on to do his duty without seeking cover. 

Even under a life threatening condition, he carried the soldiers one by one all the way to escarpment.

After the incident, he also experienced another near death situation after he rescued a wounded man and brought him 200 years to the escarpment.

Two days after that, he saved 4 men.

He also helped a severely wounded soldier by crawling to the spot which was about 25 feet away from the position of the enemy.

Private First Class Doss carried him until they reached a safe ground even when there’s enemy fire.

On May 21, 1945 during a night attack, he was exposed while the others took cover.

He himself was injured with a grenade. He tended to his own wounds and five hours later, his comrades were able to reach him.

Three of them had to face the enemy’s tan and he saw a wounded man in critical condition.

He asked the bearers to help the other person who needed it more.

As he waited for his bearers to return, he suffered another injury after he was struck, injuring his arm. To survive, he had to crawl 300 yards all the way to the station.

His unwavering bravery and gallantry echoed in history and became a symbol with his outstanding work and with the lives he saved.

Desmond Doss Post-War

Doss wanted to work in carpentry after the war. But with the injuries he incurred, his left arm wouldn’t allow him to do such work.

He was also diagnosed with tuberculosis, a lung disease that he acquired when he was in Leyte. For more than 5 years, he had to take treatments.

When he was discharged from the hospital, he was almost disable because of the disease.

He continued with his treatment but he had an overdose which resulted to him being deaf after 30 years.

In 1988, he underwent a cochlear implant and he regained back his hearing. With everything that he went through, he was still able to have a family in Rising Fawn, Georgia.

On August 17, 1942, he married Dorothy Schutte who gave birth to Desmond Doss Jr. The baby was born in 1946, but due to a car accident he died on 1991.

Two years after he remarried to Frances Duman on July 1, 1993.

On March 23, 2006, Doss died after he was brought to hospital for breathing problems.

He died in his home located in Piedmont, Alabama and was buried in the National Cemetery in Tennessee.

The awards and recognitions he received include the following:

  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • Bronze Star Medal
  • World War II Victory Medal
  • Medal of Honor
  • American Campaign Medal
  • Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
  • Army Presidential Unit Citation
  • Philippine Liberation Medal

Because of the outstanding courage and honor he showed, he received various accolades.

A part of the US Route 501 is named “Pfc.Desmon T. Doss Memorial Expressway” commemorating his valor during world war II.

Veterans also honor him during patriotic holidays. In 1951, the Camp Desmond. T. Doss was built in Michigan. They trained young men from Seventh-day Adventist church for military service.

During the Vietnam and Korean War, the camp was still active before it was finally sold. In 1980, a school was named Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy.

He also appeared before the House of Representatives in Georgia last 2000 and was given a special resolution acknowledging his heroic deeds and accomplishments.

A statue was created at the Veterans Memorial Park in May 2007.

Who Was Alexander Fleming And What Did He Do

We always hear about Alexander Fleming and his discovery of the penicillin and barely know much about him.

Sir Alexander Fleming was born on August 6, 1881 in Ayrshire, Scotland.

He’s a bacteriologist who worked in a wide range of studies from wound infection to lysozyme.

In 1928, he discovered the penicillin which paved the way for the antibiotic revolution and eventually marked his place in the history of bacteriology.

In 1945, his work was awarded and recognized. He received the Nobel Prize for Medicine alongside Howard Florey, a Australian pathologist and Ernst Chain, a British biochemist.

Early Education And Career

Alexander Fleming was the 7th child of a farmer in Scotland.

With his upbringing, at such an early age his eyes were opened to the beauty of the natural world.

He started his school at Loudoon Moor and eventually he moved to Kilmarnock Academy.

One year after, he went to London where he lived his older brother Thomas who was an oculist.

In 1901, he went to St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School where he was able to secure a scholarship.

At the University of London, he became a top student and got a gold medal.

When he worked at the Inoculation Department, he was finally convinced that his future was with the bacteriology.

From 1909 to 194, he successfully established his career as a venereologist and got married to Sarah McElroy who was working as a nurse.

Fleming was considered to be one of the very first doctors in Britan to have the Salvarsan administered. It’s a drug that’s used to treat syphilis.

When World War I broke out, he for the Royal Army Medical Corps as a bacteriologist.

He then started studying about wound infections. In his work, he showed how the use of antiseptics did harm.

He recommended that it’s better to ensure to make it clean and just to use a saline solution that is mild.

Alexander Fleming came back to St. Mary and became the assistant director of the department.

Work Prior To The Discovery Of Penicillin

Fleming saw the death of soldiers due to infected wounds during WW1.

What he found out was that the antiseptics used actually made things much worst.

He submitted an article in the Lancet, a medical journal where he showed in his work how the antiseptics were actually killing the soldiers more compared to the infections.

At the onset and from the surface, most would think that these antiseptics really worked but the wounds would have anaerobic bacteria coming from the antiseptic.

Another colleague supported his findings. Almroth Wright supported Fleming’s claims despite other physicians who continued to use these antiseptics.

When he came back at St. Mary’s Hospital, he continued his work and investigations.

He tested secretions that came from a patient who had a cold and from there he tested to see its effect on the growth of the bacteria. His first discovery that he recorded was the lysozome.

Discovery Of Penicillin

After he was appointed as professor in September 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered that substance he was working on was now contaminated by fungus. He identified it as Penicillium notatum.

Due to his inquisitive nature, he studied it further as he was able to find a more potent enzyme compared to lysosome.

Working with two researchers, they started to find ways to purify the penicillin.

Although they initially failed, he pointed out that there’s clinical potential in penicillin. As an antiseptic and antibiotic, it’s known to have potential.

During World War II, penicillin was used. With the work of a group of scientists from the University of Oxford, they were able to develop penicillin.

In 1945 Fleming alongside Ernst Chain and Howard Florey won the 1945 Nobel Prize.

In 1944, Fleming was awarded the knight status. Five years after, his wife died.

And just two years after, he remarried his colleague.

For the last years of his life, Fleming devoted himself in various studies and became the ambassador of medicine.

Fleming might be initially known as a shy man who’s not really very communicative but he became one of the world’s most famous scientists.

Interesting Facts About the Wright Brothers

With the technology we have now, you can go and fly to any destination.

Thanks to the discovery and invention of the Wright Brothers that paved the way for the creation of modern aircraft that we now use today.

Many only know their names but few really know things about them and how they started. Orville and Wilber Wright were American investors. Wilbur Ohio was born on April 16, 1867, while his brother Orville was born on August 19, 1871.

The two brothers grew up very close and their personalities complemented each other. Orville was the type of person that was full of vigor and had a lot of ideas while Wilbur was the more mature one and wanted to get things done.

Wilbur initially wanted to attend Yale and be a clergyman. But due to an injury that he incurred while he was playing hockey, he wasn’t able to pursue his education at Yale. But he continued to study in the next years.

His father owned a big library where he got the chance to still study although it was more of an information education. When they were still young, the Wright brothers helped their dad in his journal work known as the Religious Telescope.

After a few years, they also started their own paper known as the West Side News. They ventured into a business where they produced handouts and even commercial fliers. Come 1892, the Wright brothers finally opened their own shop in Dayton- the Wright Cycle Shop.

Their new shop involved a lot of mechanical devices where they got the opportunity.

Although the Wright brothers did not have any formal training and education in mechanical works, their business served as their platform to have knowledge of practical mechanics. They were able to acquire the knowledge of building machines.

What made the Wright brothers very much interested in the art of flying was due to Otto Lilienthal, an aeronautical engineer. When he died in 1896, the two brothers became more interested in continuing what he had started.

They invested their time in gaining knowledge in the theoretical aspects and the art of flying.

How They Started

They started by mastering every important detail that needed to be mastered in the subject.

They created, tested and designed their own gliders and models and they even created an engine.

Although the brothers experienced failures where some of what they built were not adequate, they persisted and continued making more experiments.

What they had observed was that the initial attempted were not successful because the planes require the pilots to change its bodies in order to control it. So what they did was to control the plane by its wings.

When they returned in Dayton, they created a wind tunnel where they can control the wind flow to see its effect.

They tested hundreds of models and eventually chose the most suitable design. In 1903, they came back to Kitty Hawk for more tests.

They created thousands of gliding flights and through their findings, they confirmed what they had previously observed. After being able to created and control the air frame, the brothers were determined to try the powered flight.

First Powered Flight

The Wright brothers had to build their own engine based on the specifications they wanted since no one would.

They created 4 cylinders and a 12 horsepower unit. This was installed and the machine only weighed about 750 lbs.

The said machine was proven to have the capacity to travel at 31 miles per hour. After they had successfully built their powered machine, they took it to Kitty Hawk and on December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers were able to make its powered flight.

Orville made the very first flight where the machine was able to last about 12 seconds at 120 feet.

In its 4th flight, Wilbur took over the controls and the plane was able to stay up in the air for about 59 seconds and had traveled 852 feet. After their very first successful powered flight, the Wright brothers were more determined than ever to focus on their aviation.

On May 22, 1906, they got the patent for their invention. Three years after, the Wright brothers built the American Wright Company with Wilbur leading the business.

But when he died in 1912, his brother got so depressed that he gave up his interest in the business. 

Who Was Leonidas And What Did He Do

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A son to a Spartan King, Leonidas succeeded the throne when his older brother Cleomenes died in mysterious circumstances.

With his brother failing to produce a male heir, Leonidas became king. He’s a military and political trainer.

As with all the other men in Sparta, Leonidas had undergone training since his childhood to become a warrior. In those days, they called the Spartan warriors as the hoplites.

They used a round shield with iron sword. During battles, the Spartans would use the phalanx formation where the shields would overlap and serve as a defense in a frontal attack. However, this formation has a weakness.

Once the phalanx breaks, the enemies can attach from the rear which will render the forces vulnerable. In fact, this was the grave mistake that cost Leonidas his defeat at the Battle of Thermopylae.

Life of Leonidas

The mother of Leonidas was not just the wife of his father but was his niece.

His mother took time to bear a child that the administrators finally convinced the King Anaxandridas to marry another wife.

He refused to set aside his wife but agreed on marrying a second wife. His second wife bore a son named Cleomenes who was Leonidas’ older half-brother. Shortly after the second wife bore the king’s son, the first wife gave birth to Leonidas.

And since Leonidas was not considered as the heir to the throne, he had to undergo the notorious training that every Spartan child had to experience. When the king died, Cleomenes became the king. Many were outraged by his rule because of his failure attempts.

When he was killed, Leonidas ascended the throne and he married the daughter of Cleomenes, Gorgo. In 481 BC, Leonidas lead the Greek forces that stopped the Persian invasion of Greece.

Battle of Thermopylae

After receiving the request to defend the Greeks against the invading Persians, the Spartans went to the Oracle at Delphi.

They consulted the oracle to know about the outcome of the war. Leonidas alongside his Spartan warriors marched to battle against Xerxes Army at Thermopylae. He only has a small force with about 1200 men whereas the Persian army stood strong with 7000 men. Sparta’s contribution was only 300 and they faced a big army.

Outnumbered, the Greeks had to face the Persian army who have successfully invaded a lot of territories and even the north part of Greece.

Xerxes had to wait for 4 days thinking that the Greeks would surrender. But on the 5th day, the Persians finally launched their attach.

The Greeks were able to defend their position in the next two days where they managed to kill a lot of men from the enemy troops. In fact, two of Xerxes brothers died in the battlefield.

But on the 7th day, Ephialtes betrayed the Greek army when he aided Hydarnes, a Persian general to the path in the mountain that showed the vulnerability of the Greeks- the rear.

At that time, Leonidas sent his troops while the Thespians said that they would never leave.

And so during the battle when the rear side of the Greek army was attacked, the Thespians fought alongside the Spartans.

With the Persians able to attack the rear, almost all of the forces were killed. Some of the Thebans surrendered to the Persian king but Leonidas died in battle. The Spartans were able to retrieve his body and they protected it.

After the Battle

Despite the Spartans losing the battle, Leonidas was known for his bravery and his sacrifice.

The Persians continued to make its move all the way down to Boeotia. But in September 480 BC, the Athenians defeated the Persians in a decisive battle at the Battle of Salamis that forced the Persians to finally go home.

Leonidas might have lost the battle but he showed how it was to be a Spartan warrior and how he’s willing to make that ultimate sacrifice to protect the Greeks.

Because of his personal sacrifice and bravery in the battlefield, he became extremely popular to the point that there were even cults established.

It was part of the customs of the Greeks where they worship dead heroes. 40 years after the battle, the Spartans retrieved his remains and built a shrine in his honor.