The incongruence of Tillman’s refusal to be interviewed and the government’s obsessive media coverage of him is one example in a long line of contradictions. Additionally, Tillman was reserved and modest which made it even more difficult for others to exploit him. Despite the Department of Defense’s efforts to depict him as the perfect American hero, Tillman wanted to be more than that. Nearly everyone who interacted with him described him as a good listener and a deep intellectual thinker (Krakauer, 18). Additionally, he strayed from the military “norm” of throwing his rank around. He was inherently respectful of everyone around him even those who were below him in the hierarchy, and he didn’t believe in putting others down (Krakauer, 318). Also, Tillman had no interest in being used as a tool by the government or the media, in life or in death. When discussing his potential death with a fellow soldier Tillman said, “I don’t want them to parade me through the streets,” (Krakauer, 349). The glaring difference between Tillman’s quiet heroism and the government and media portrayal of him shows that Tillman’s story is one full of
The incongruence of Tillman’s refusal to be interviewed and the government’s obsessive media coverage of him is one example in a long line of contradictions. Additionally, Tillman was reserved and modest which made it even more difficult for others to exploit him. Despite the Department of Defense’s efforts to depict him as the perfect American hero, Tillman wanted to be more than that. Nearly everyone who interacted with him described him as a good listener and a deep intellectual thinker (Krakauer, 18). Additionally, he strayed from the military “norm” of throwing his rank around. He was inherently respectful of everyone around him even those who were below him in the hierarchy, and he didn’t believe in putting others down (Krakauer, 318). Also, Tillman had no interest in being used as a tool by the government or the media, in life or in death. When discussing his potential death with a fellow soldier Tillman said, “I don’t want them to parade me through the streets,” (Krakauer, 349). The glaring difference between Tillman’s quiet heroism and the government and media portrayal of him shows that Tillman’s story is one full of