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Worth Fighting For

By Aaron Davis (reviewer)

Worth Fighting For: An Army Ranger's Journey Out of the Military and Across America
By Rory Fanning
(Haymarket Books, 2014)

Rory Fanning met Pat and Kevin Tillman in Ranger Training. They served in the same Ranger unit in Afghanistan. We remember what happened April 22, 2004, the day Pat Tillman was killed. The memorial service and subsequent cover-up of his death by friendly fire brought a firestorm of criticism of the Military Chain of Command and the Bush Administration.

As an infantryman in Afghanistan (MOS 11B), Rory Fanning had an epiphany. "When it came down to it, I realized I didn't have it in me to kill. I knew I would be destroyed forever, if I did." As the War in Iraq began, he realized that it was "illegal according to the US Constitution" and he could no longer be an "imperialist storm trooper."

The day Pat Tillman was killed, Rory had already applied for, and was awaiting the decision on his Conscientious Objector (CO) discharge request. Six days later it was approved.

The book is Rory's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual journey from Warrior to Objector, Republican to Socialist and Christian to Atheist. He decided to walk across the country for his friend Pat Tillman in 2008, and raise money for the Pat Tillman Foundation. His journey started at Virginia Beach, Virginia and finished 9 months later in Oceanside, California (near Camp Pendleton where I received Marine Corps Infantry training).

Rory's experiences meeting people along the way and passing through states in cold, rainy and snowy weather attest to his inner convictions and strength. Living in a small one man tent (GP Tiny), and walking up to 38 miles a day is a little more than I could handle now, but Rory does it with class.

He spoke to a class in Roby, Texas and was asked the question, which military service to join. Rory emphatically replied,"I don't think you should join any of them."

Near Mesa AZ, Rory was given a book written by Dan Millman called "The Way of The Peaceful Warrior." This is Rory's journey of discovery, connection and life purpose. He did travel through Show Low, Arizona where 4 of my kids and 8 of my grand kids lived at that time.

Rory Fanning lives in Chicago, is a housing activist and works for Haymarket books.

Aaron Davis was a former Marine and Army Officer, founded VFP 118 in Salt lake City, Utah, was VVAW contact in Utah and is now retired living in Gold Canyon Arizona.