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By MARK GAUGHAN
The death of former NFL player Pat Tillman on Thursday in Afghanistan marked the first fatality of a pro football player in combat since Buffalo Bills guard Bob Kalsu was killed in 1970.
Tillman and Kalsu shared a common bond in serving their country: Neither was forced to go to the front lines.
Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract offer to join the Army in 2001. Kalsu was called to active duty after his rookie season with the Bills in 1968. He very likely could have opted for reserve service in the United States. Most other draftable pro athletes elected to serve in the reserves, and friends of Kalsu urged him to seek the Bills' help in finding a slot in the reserves....
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The death of former NFL player Pat Tillman on Thursday in Afghanistan marked the first fatality of a pro football player in combat since Buffalo Bills guard Bob Kalsu was killed in 1970.
Tillman and Kalsu shared a common bond in serving their country: Neither was forced to go to the front lines.
Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract offer to join the Army in 2001. Kalsu was called to active duty after his rookie season with the Bills in 1968. He very likely could have opted for reserve service in the United States. Most other draftable pro athletes elected to serve in the reserves, and friends of Kalsu urged him to seek the Bills' help in finding a slot in the reserves....
more
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