Pat Tillman's Death (1 Viewer)

[Don Quixote]

No link yet... see CNN.com Headline

 

[Don Quixote]

Story now up...

Army to open criminal probe of Tillman death

Friendly fire blamed in death of former NFL player in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon has directed the Army to open a criminal investigation into the death of former NFL star Pat Tillman, CNN learned on Saturday.

An inspector general ordered the Army Criminal Investigative Division to determine if Tillman's death resulted from negligent homicide, sources said.

Initial reports after his death said Tillman, 27, was shot and killed by Taliban forces during an ambush on April 22, 2004. An investigation later revealed that fellow soldiers shot Tillman, thinking he was part of an enemy force firing at them.

Tillman's family demanded to know why his uniform and body armor were burned a day after he was killed and why they were not immediately told he might have been killed by fellow soldiers.

A 2005 report from Brig. Gen. Gary Jones contained sworn statements from soldiers involved in the incident who said they burned the items because they had taken pictures of the scene, walked around and knew how Tillman had been killed.

Initially, Tillman's blood-covered uniform and armor were said to have been destroyed because they were considered a biohazard.

Jones' report said the soldiers reasoned "they knew in their heart of hearts what had happened, and we were not going to lie about it. So we weren't thinking about proof or anything."

Two years before his death, Tillman walked away from a $3.6 million contract with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals to serve in the military. He was posthumously awarded a Silver Star.

Tillman was a member of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Lewis, Washington. His brother, Kevin, trained with him and served in the same unit.

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[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Negligent homicide?

Do you think that happens often in war?

Good gracious, let Pat Tillman rest in peace.

 

[imeimex]

The problem is that the Tillman family was lied to as to the cause of his death initially. If they are doing this on a high profile soldier like Tillman, it is not hard to imagine they cover up other things.

Initially the Tillman family only asked for truth as to how their son died, and the evidence about his death was covered up and or lied about. The Tillman parents who were once very supportive of the war have now become very anti-war.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Good gracious, let Pat Tillman rest in peace.

Sheesh, no kidding. What purpose does this serve?

 

[caul]

How about accountability for whatever schmucks running the show when they lie about how our own brave soldiers die.

You dont think its valid to question and investigate why a high profile soldiers death was initially lied about.

 

[greenroom]

How about accountability for whatever schmucks running the show when they lie about how our own brave soldiers die.

You dont think its valid to question and investigate why a high profile soldiers death was initially lied about.

Then they need to investigate every "friendly fire" deaths. Which you and I know they do not do. There are no high profile soldiers in the Army or military every soldier/sailor/marine/airman is considered equal on the field.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

How about accountability for whatever schmucks running the show when they lie about how our own brave soldiers die.

You dont think its valid to question and investigate why a high profile soldiers death was initially lied about.

That's all well and good, and perfectly legit to look into, but that's not what this lawsuit is about. This appears to be about if they can place blame for Tilman's death on another soldier who made a bad decision in the heat of battle, which happens way more than any of us like to think.

I repeat my question: What purpose does this serve?

 

[DoctorDetroit]

Negligent homicide?

Do you think that happens often in war?

Good gracious, let Pat Tillman rest in peace.

This is very politically motivated as the Tillman's believe their son's good name was damaged because the Army withheld information for a long period. From what I know, and I know some...this was negligent but to what degree is unknown. He was fighting from a forward position and was hit by indirect fire because others from his unit got the wrong coordinates and didn't know friendly forces were in Tillman's area.

To me he's a hero, it doesn't matter how he died. The guy left a pro football career to join the Army as an enlisted soldier to fight terrorism. If that isn't a hero, tell me what is.

 

[Bri]

To me he's a hero, it doesn't matter how he died. The guy left a pro football career to join the Army as an enlisted soldier to fight terrorism. If that isn't a hero, tell me what is.

I would guess some would say one part is a noble deed or gesture and the other is heroic

 

[DoctorDetroit]

To me he's a hero, it doesn't matter how he died.  The guy left a pro football career to join the Army as an enlisted soldier to fight terrorism.  If that isn't a hero, tell me what is.

I would guess some would say one part is a noble deed or gesture and the other is heroic

Defining things of this nature are never easy but as a guy who has been to Afghanistan several times, who has seen this battle against terrorism up close, and was effected more by 9/11 than any other event in my life: I define his actions from beginning to end as heroic. A gesture is opening a door, a deed is shoveling an old woman's driveway.

I'm not yelling at you either, I think you have a point. This is mine.

 

[SofaKings.]

To me he's a hero, it doesn't matter how he died.  The guy left a pro football career to join the Army as an enlisted soldier to fight terrorism.  If that isn't a hero, tell me what is.

I would guess some would say one part is a noble deed or gesture and the other is heroic

Defining things of this nature are never easy but as a guy who has been to Afghanistan several times, who has seen this battle against terrorism up close, and was effected more by 9/11 than any other event in my life: I define his actions from beginning to end as heroic. A gesture is opening a door, a deed is shoveling an old woman's driveway.

I'm not yelling at you either, I think you have a point. This is mine.

Wasn't the area he in pretty hairy?

 

[-OZ-]

To me he's a hero, it doesn't matter how he died. The guy left a pro football career to join the Army as an enlisted soldier to fight terrorism. If that isn't a hero, tell me what is.

I would guess some would say one part is a noble deed or gesture and the other is heroic

Defining things of this nature are never easy but as a guy who has been to Afghanistan several times, who has seen this battle against terrorism up close, and was effected more by 9/11 than any other event in my life: I define his actions from beginning to end as heroic. A gesture is opening a door, a deed is shoveling an old woman's driveway.

I'm not yelling at you either, I think you have a point. This is mine.

Wasn't the area he in pretty hairy?

Afghanistan, with the Rangers? Hairy is an understatement.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

To me he's a hero, it doesn't matter how he died.  The guy left a pro football career to join the Army as an enlisted soldier to fight terrorism.  If that isn't a hero, tell me what is.

I would guess some would say one part is a noble deed or gesture and the other is heroic

Defining things of this nature are never easy but as a guy who has been to Afghanistan several times, who has seen this battle against terrorism up close, and was effected more by 9/11 than any other event in my life: I define his actions from beginning to end as heroic. A gesture is opening a door, a deed is shoveling an old woman's driveway.

I'm not yelling at you either, I think you have a point. This is mine.

Wasn't the area he in pretty hairy?

I have been to Khost twice and it is an incredible place of beauty, danger and instability. It straddles the Pakistani border and for centuries has been a route for bandits, warriors, and now terrorists. His unit was chasing a group of Al-Qaeda into a steep valley and things just went wrong. It has happened before, it will happen again. The thing is we are talking about a NFL football player so it becomes news. Personally I don't blame the family or his backers for pursuing this. They should have come out from the very beginning and told the truth. That is a different thread.