Milt Palacio

Tillman's Parents Are Critical of Army

"More than a year after their son was shot several times by his fellow Army Rangers on a craggy hillside near the Pakistani border, Tillman's mother and father said in interviews that they believe the military and the government created a heroic tale about how their son died to foster a patriotic response across the country. They say the Army's "lies" about what happened have made them suspicious, and that they are certain they will never get the full story.

"Pat had high ideals about the country; that's why he did what he did," Mary Tillman said in her first lengthy interview since her son's death. "The military let him down. The administration let him down. It was a sign of disrespect. The fact that he was the ultimate team player and he watched his own men kill him is absolutely heartbreaking and tragic. The fact that they lied about it afterward is disgusting."

sick little jag

Despite the fact that it is dispicable that they lied about how he died and the measures they took to cover it up, I absolutely love how it all comes back down to recruitment. Heaven forbid they tell the truth about what happens over there for fear that they scare off some more well-meaning innocent kids who have no idea of what they are getting themselves into. Recruiters are going out of their way to hook people in, but less and less people are buying into what they're selling.

I'm so sorry that this happened to him and I'm espcially sad that his family was lied to at the expense of making the US army look good.

ceilirose

What's worse is that I'll bet anything that no one of any high ranking in the Army or Pentagon will be held accountable for this. You know those at the lower end of system will be penalized just like Abu Ghraib but thats where it will stop.

Burning his uniform to hide evidence? It sounds like something that would happen in an episode of JAG rather than a real incident. I really hope this doesn't get buried in the news cycle because it's really important.

Milt Palacio

Not surprisingly, this story didn't get much coverage in the mainstream media.

wanderer78

I agree, this is the first I've heard of this.

ceilirose

It's off the radar already. Where's the outrage that our military could do something like that?

Buy hey...Tom Cruise is sooooo happy with Katie Holmes. Now that's news.

WalkingOnSunshine

Was it awful that Pat Tillam was killed? Of course. Was it hard to hear it was by friendly fire? Yes. However, accidents of friendly fire do occur, and I don't think blaming those soliders who were confused & unaware of what was about to unfold is going to solve anything.

I find it hard to believe that the Army is trying to spin & re-spin events of Tillman's death. I feel for the family and understand the need to blame and point the finger at someone though.

I realize an apology does not seem like enough, but it does carry a meaning.

ceilirose

Friendly fire incidents occur but when they are covered up it's unconscionable. Because of who this soldier was it's more the case. How any of the higher ups in the military can let a nationally televised tribute to this man go on while knowing the true story is just plain wrong. They used him and his family in the worst possible way at a horrible time in their lives. The parents have every right to point fingers and demand an explanation.

The soldiers and the commanders knew immediately it was friendly fire incident. They let the death of this man be used to promote their own agenda. Was the burning of his uniform just a simple mistake?

It means very little in this case. Someone in the military besides the soldiers involved need to be held accountable. But we won't hold our breath waiting for that to happen.

Avatar

The army, as much as everyone, made Tillman into a hero. I'm not saying he wasn't, because, to quote Peter King: "Sacrificing your wants and needs and hopes to do what you think makes the world a better place is the most admirable thing a person can do in this life." But the army, helped by the media, made him into this larger-than-life character (which Tillman himself would abhor - see the quote from his former head coach in Arizona, Dave McGinnis, in the Peter King column: "When he first came in to talk to me about his decision (early in 2002), I said, 'Pat, this is going to garner a lot of attention.' He didn't understand. He said, 'There's young men and women all over the country doing this. Why should I be any different?'") , so obviously his family wants answers. I think that's what it is - wanting answers, not wanting to point fingers.

summerbug

Exactly! Just like when anyone close to you dies you want to try and understand, to know what happened to your loved one and you want what you are told to be the truth. To find out what they thought was the truth was not, is very painful to a grieving family. It also makes them AND other families who have lost loved ones question anything they may have been told by the military. So, it is a much larger issue than Pat Tillman - for many families.

SweetLisaLisa

If you think about it, all recruiters had to do was sit on their butts and watch the new cadets roll on in. After 911 so many got caught up in that "RAH RAH LETS BE PATRIOTIC" feeling. Don't get me wrong. With 2 parents retired Air Force, I am the last one to think there is something wrong with wanting to defend your country. But do it for the right reasons. I don't mean just politically but you really need to make sure emotion is not your main motivating factor.