Report: Tillman died in horrific manner

Philadelphia Daily News ^ | 12/6/2004 | AP

[DameAutour]

WASHINGTON - The last minutes of Pat Tillman's life were a horror of misdirected machine-gun fire and signals to firing colleagues that were misunderstood as hostile acts, according to an account published yesterday of the death of the NFL player-turned-soldier.

It took the Army a month to change the record to show that Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals defensive back who gave up a $3.6 million contract to become an Army Ranger, was killed last April not by Afghan guerrillas but by his Ranger colleagues.

Yesterday, the Washington Post reported the horrific details of Tillman's death in eastern Afghanistan.

According to the report, Tillman's platoon got split up in a canyon. The group Tillman was with came under fire from Afghan Taliban fighters. The other U.S. platoon heard an explosion and was ordered to head toward the attackers.

The canyon's walls prevented radio contact and one U.S. platoon mistakenly fired on the other.

According to a Ranger, Tillman came up with the idea to let a smoke grenade go to alert the attacking platoon to the fact they were firing on U.S. soldiers. As its thick smoke unfurled, the Ranger said it "stopped the friendly contact for a few moments.''

The Ranger then saw an attacking U.S. Humvee move into "a better position to fire on us." He heard a new machine gun burst and hit the ground, praying, as Tillman fell.

The Ranger said Tillman had repeatedly screamed out his name and shouted for the shooting to stop. The Ranger and others waved their arms, only attracting more fire. Tillman was shot repeatedly by rifles, finally succumbing to the machine gun.

[First_Salute]

It was no mystery.

We were aware, in the news, very soon after his death, that he was hit by "friendly fire."

[kanecorp]

so tragic.

[SolutionsOnly]

I'm not sure we really need to know this - or dwell on it now that we do.

Pat Tillman is still a hero.

[Moral Hazard]

"Report: Tillman died in horrific manner"

As opposed to those who die happy friendly deaths in war.

[elfman2]

These kinds of mistakes are inevitable. I’m sure someone’s career was ended over it.

[DameAutour]

It's obvious what WaPO, the Philly Daily News and the AP are trying to do here.

[syriacus]

The news sources sure vary, the past few days, in their headlines about Tillman's death.

Truth emerges about death of US hero -- Ireland Online, Ireland - 28 minutes ago

No sure answers on Tillman's death -- San Jose Mercury News, CA - 5 hours ago

Records show new facts behind Tillman death -- Miami Herald

The errors that killed Pat Tillman -- Seattle Times, WA - 8 hours ago

ARMY GAVE FALSE INFO ON TILLMAN -- New York Post, NY - 8 hours ago

Tillman's end filled with horror -- Arizona Republic, AZ - 8 hours ago

Was Tillman Friendly Fire Victim? -- CBS News - 8 hours ago

Army Spun Tale Around Ill-Fated Mission -- Washington Post, DC - 11 hours ago

A Hero Dies and Questions Remain -- Los Angeles Times - 11 hours ago

Mistakes marked Tillman's -- MSNBC - Dec 4, 2004

Barrage of Bullets Drowned Out Cries of Comrades -- Washington Post, DC - Dec 4, 2004

New Account of Tillman's Last Minutes Published -- KPHO Phoenix, AZ - 54 minutes ago

Report States Former NFL Player Killed By Friendly Fire -- NBC4.TV, CA - 1 hour ago

Report: Details of former NFL player's friendly fire death -- WIS, SC - 2 hours ago

Pat Tillman May Have Died at the Hands of His Own Platoon -- KSL-TV, UT - 11 hours ago

New account of Pat Tillman's last minutes describes friendly-fire ... -- WAVY-TV, VA - 11 hours ago

Newspaper Uncovers Questions About Tillman's Death -- KTVU.com, CA - 20 hours ago

Report: Pat Tillman's final minutes a horror -- Salon - 49 minutes ago

Account of Tillman's Killing Is Challenged -- Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - 1 hour ago

Friendly fire facts hidden early on after Tillman's death -- AZ Central.com, AZ - 2 hours ago

Hero's death, distorted tale -- Chicago Tribune , IL - 3 hours ago

Army glossed over Tillman's death -- San Jose Mercury News, CA - 5 hours ago

Friendly-fire horror detailed -- Winnipeg Sun, Canada - 8 hours ago

The real story of how Tillman died -- Kansas City Star, MO - 8 hours ago

Picture emerges of Tillman's last battle -- Boston Globe, MA - 9 hours ago

Deadly mistakes: how Tillman's team killed him -- Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 10 hours ago

Report: Tillman's Final Minutes a Horror -- ABC News - 13 hours ago

Report: Tillman's Final Minutes a Horror -- Newsday, NY - 17 hours ago

Barrage of bullets drowned out cries of Tillman's comrades -- AZ Central.com, AZ - 21 hours ago

New Account Of Pat Tillman's Last Minutes Describes Friendly-fire ... -- KOTV, OK - 3 hours ago

etc

[HighlyOpinionated]

And who was it who didn't want to spend money on military supplies for our Armed Forces fighting the War on Terror????

Is there any equipment available for use in situations like these where 'normal' communications are hampered?

If the media are looking for a scapegoat, they need look no farther than the "junior Senator from Massachusetts."

[Prost1]

Clearly this reporting is to negate heroism.
Enlisting for service, going to war, these are heroic acts.

The media wants to dissuade heroism. It is not to their thinking or liking, the people would willing fight and die so the media can print their tripe.

More of the same anti-war message.
When terroists bomb shopping centers killing members of the media, who will aid their members?

[GOP_Proud]

"Report: Tillman died in horrific manner"

As opposed to those who die happy friendly deaths in war.

---

Reminds me of what a guy said last night on the Scott Pelley program about the fight for Fallujah. A company commander? (not sure) who had performed heroically had just died. Pelley asked a marine, "How does that make you feel to lose a man like that?". The guy replied, "The same way I feel about every man we lose".

[agenda_express]

Story in WP on May 30, 2004

[SevenMinusOne]

May God Bless Ranger Tillman - He was one of those one of a kind people - And while every soldier is doing incredible work and giving an incredible sacrifice.....this man went above and beyond by enlisting (that simple) - He is someone that future American history should know and learn about -

And while friendly fire accidents are surly part of combat and every soldier in harms way knows this......This incident is still terribly and damn shameful.....There is simply no discarding that reckless action was taken by a few fellow Rangers.....and they very well should be dealt with (within the military.....not by being imprisoned....but by being removed from the battlefield were sound judgment is needed) - Because simply doctrine was not followed here...in the least....and a damn good man died.

How the media will spin this is simply ugly...and it is what the media does...(fk'em). But that still does not mean we can't intellectually admit this should have never happened....

Again, God Bless Pat Tillman and his family - Simply a hard one to swallow -

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[Rodentking]

As we come up on Memorial Day, it is fitting to reflect on an American Hero, Ranger Pat Tillman.

Pat Tillman left a lucrative career as a ball player to defend his country. He did something millions of Americans before him did, he put his country before his personal being. He consciously gave his today so we might have a free tomorrow. Pat Tillman joined the Army and in the end became Ranger Tillman. Ranger Tillman lived in a world where having been a ball player was kind of cool, where being a Ranger was here, now and the only thing. He excelled because he had talent and heart.

Ranger Tillman was an American Hero because he did what heroes do, he put country before self.

Ranger Tillman gave his life for our country in Afghanistan on a hill whose name no one can pronounce. In the end, as so many American Heroes have done he gave more than his today, he gave all his tomorrows that we might have that free tomorrow. He died as a result of “friendly fire”, although I can tell you no one shooting at you is all that friendly. Friendly Fire; Blue on Blue, Fratricide. All words that mean the fog of war claimed another casualty. Even in today’s age of internet and instantaneous communications, the fog of war extends far from the battlefield. There was far more going on than the death of Ranger Tillman. Was his name used to help recruiting? Certainly. Did he mind? Certainly not. Does Blue on Blue imply homicide, as some have said? Clearly not. Is it investigated? To the extent possible. We want to make sure it does not happen again. We try to keep our people safe. Ranger Tillman loved his country and unlike the press, knew when she called.

Does the fact that he died of “friendly fire” mean Ranger Tillman was not a hero. No. The day Pat Tillman swore to “…uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…” he became a hero.

Those who defend us are all heroes. Ordinary Joes, perhaps; but all heroes.

War is dangerous. War is horror. But, war is far from the worst thing. We grieve at the death any of our warrior family. Somehow it is worse when the death is at our hand. The fact that his death was by friendly fire changes not his heroic status. It is sad his family lost their son and brother. It is even sadder that his parents for whatever reason want to do other than honor the sacrifice of their son. He gave his life that this country might be free. He gave his life to make this a better world.

All gave some,
Some gave all.

God, Honor, Country – Now and Forever

[SevenMinusOne]

Wonderfully said! May God Bless Ranger Tillman.