The Duke of Sussex will be handed the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPYS.
Tillman was killed in the line of duty on April 22, 2004, aged just 27.
For the last ten years the Pat Tillman Award for Service has been “given to a person with a strong connection to sports
who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger, Pat Tillman,” according to ESPN.
Harry was offered the award “in honour of his tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport.”
The duke founded the Invictus Games a decade ago to support injured and sick servicemen and women – both on active duty and veterans.
It comes despite Harry courting controversy by boasting of killing 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
He wrote in his memoir Spare that he’d taken “chess pieces off the board”, sparking ex-colonel Tim Collins to respond it was “not how you behave in the army”.
And his latest award has sparked fury among aviation fans and army experts – who believe Harry does not deserve it.
Retired military officer Colonel Richard Kemp says the award is just “celebrities massaging each other’s egos”.
He told The Sun: “He was a gunner in an Apache helicopter in Afghanistan but so were many, many other people.
“I can think of many people who did pretty extraordinary things while serving in the British and American armed forces which would be much more deserving of an award like this.
“It is obviously because of who he is – not what he did. An Apache is crewed by two people – a pilot and a gunner. Harry was a gunner. He was number two in the aircraft.
“There have been some incredible aeronautical exports from helicopter pilots in Afghanistan, Iraq and other war zones.
“There are some extraordinary stories – many covered by The Sun – involving enormous flying skill and bravery.
“As far as I’m aware Harry – though I commend him for going out there and doing it – did not accomplish feats like these.”
Prince Harry isn’t the first high-profile Brit to be handed the Pat Tillman award.
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford won in 2021 for his work persuading the Government to give children free meals through the school holidays during the Covid pandemic.
ESPN vice-president of production Kate Jackson said: “It’s our privilege to recognise three incredible individuals – Steve Gleason, Dawn Staley and Prince Harry.
“These honourees have used their platforms to change the world and make it more inclusive for marginalised and suffering communities, demonstrating incredible resilience, positivity and perseverance, and we’re thrilled to celebrate them at the 2024 ESPYs.”
ESPN said Harry is being honoured for his “tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport”.
It said the Invictus Games has “transcended borders and impacted lives across every continent”.
Harry’s Sussex.com website confirmed the news, announcing: “During this year’s ESPYs, ESPN will recognize exceptional individuals who exemplify courage, perseverance, and service.
“Among the esteemed recipients is Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, who will be honoured with the Pat Tillman Award for Service.”
ESPN recounted Tillman’s tragic death in 2014 as the 10th anniversary approached.
“The events leading up to one of the most infamous friendly-fire deaths in US military history were rife for second-guessing from the start,” reported ESPN.
“After an Army Humvee broke down in the mountains, Tillman’s platoon was divided by superiors so that the Humvee could be removed; a local truck driver was hired as the hauler.
“But the two groups struggled to communicate with each other as they traversed the steep terrain. And the second group soon became caught in a deafening ambush, receiving fire as it manoeuvred down a narrow, rocky canyon trail.”
A squad leader would misidentify an allied Afghan soldier positioned next to Tillman as the enemy, according to ESPN.
Soldiers would fire upon what Army Ranger Steven Elliott called “shadowy images,” ESPN reported.
Tillman was a safety with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals for four seasons before joining the Army.
He enlisted eight months after 3,000 people were killed in the September 11 terror attacks.
Tillman, a California native, turned down a contract offer of $3.6 million when he joined the military.
After training at Sandhurst, Harry was commissioned as an officer in the Household Cavalry Blues and Royals in April 2006.
In Afghanistan, he acted as a Forward Air Controller from 2007 to 2008 and as an Apache Pilot from 2012 to 2013, and was stationed on occasion at Camp Bastion.
He witnessed horrific injuries suffered by fellow servicemen and later set up the Invictus Games for wounded personnel.
During his time in the combat, he qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2011.
His brother, William, Prince of Wales, trained with the RAF as a search and rescue pilot in 2009, before becoming an air ambulance pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance for two years from March 2015.
Harry was stripped of his honorary military titles including The Royal Marines, RAF Honington, Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving when he left the royal family in 2020.
In January Harry was named a ‘Living Legend of Aviation’ despite only being “number two” in his helicopter in Afghanistan.
The event was set up by the non-profit Kiddie Hawk Air Academy to honour those who make significant contributions to aviation and aerospace.
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Source: Los Angeles Times
