Each is an individual tragedy, as are all American combat deaths, not a scandal and our scandal-obsessed media is committing a journalistic atrocity by acting as though this one is.
I believe that Pat’s death was a tragic accident. I am curious that we have never heard from his brother who, I believe, was there at the time.
...the Tillman family needs to bear their grief away in private...it’s sad that Pat died the way that he did, but the Army is inherently a dangerous calling...every year men die in combat, die from accidents, die from illness and die from misfortune...their son decided to volunteer for a particularly high risk MOS...I don’t think that the family really understood the risks that he was accepting as a triple volunteer...Army/Airborne/Ranger.
Friendly fire deaths have always been a part of war. The problem here was the cover-up by the military. They should have acknowledged the truth from the beginning.
Tillman’s family dishonors him. Tillman wasn’t drafted - he knew what he was volunteering for. That’s part of what makes him such a hero. Not only did he volunteer for the Army, but he went infantry and THEN went Ranger, which requires an even further level of volunteering. By crying about his death now, his family acts as if Tillman was some misguided child who didn’t know what he was getting into.
I feel sorry for the Tillman’s. Having said that, what are they hoping to accomplish in going on and on about this?
Pat Tillman was killed by accident. He is not the first, or last soldier, who has died by “friendly” fire. The facts, the real facts, about what happened got lost in the maze and beauracracy of military/civilian command. Some in the chain of command screwed up royally. Everyone knows this. They should be ashamed, embarrassed and held accountable.
What is the goal of the Tillmans and the Weinsteins(Massive Hollywood liberals) in putting this film together? Let me guess. Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld hatched a plot to use the death of an NFL star to promote the war. Is that it? Is that what this is all about? With the WOT in its infancy, with operations going on hot and heavy, the death of one soldier, even a soldier named Pat Tillman must have been one of ten thousand considerations occupying the minds of those in command. Until it came to light that the death of an NFL star would draw massive media coverage, I am sure it was treated like the death of any other soldier. The emails urging caution in talking about his death seem normal enough.
Whatever the facts truly are, and they will probably not be in this film, enough already.
Pat Tillman gave his life for his country. He left the popular and lucrative world of the NFL to fight for his country. He left the comfort of the USA and lived, fought, and died in Afghanistan. Those are the facts that should be remembered.
I think what you will find out if all the truth comes out is that Pat Tillman did something that was bad judgement and was shot accidently because they thought he was the enemy. Soldiers who die under those circumstances, and it is not as uncommon as you might think, are officially killed while serving heroically.
As far as I know no parent has ever received a letter that said anything different when their soldier died.
One General has been demoted and there may be others that will get the same treatment due to this code of honor. I think that they are protecting Pat Tillman’s reputation and they are doing a fine job of it.
Hats off to the US Army.
I understand the upset from not being told immediately about “friendly fire” (or why commanders would cover it up) but either way, friendly or not - their son is dead. This does not change the respect I have for the guy.
Tillman joined up willingly, in fact he gave up A LOT to go to Afghanistan. He wanted to be at the “tip of the spear.” I don’t believe anyone is even claiming negligence in how he died either.
In light of all this, I don’t understand Tillman’s parents’ anger after so many years.
I don’t know what Tillman’s family is trying to accomplish here. Mostly they are tarnishing his sincere desire to serve, his service and the honor many accorded him in death. For what? And why does any of this have to be done in public?