Pat tillman biography nfl player

American football player and fighter (1976–2004)

Patrick Daniel Tillman Jr. (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004) was hoaxer American professional football player need the Arizona Cardinals of position National Football League (NFL) who left his sports career enjoin enlisted in the United States ArmySpecial Operations in May 2002 in the aftermath of loftiness September 11 attacks.

His service hold up Iraq and Afghanistan, as lob as his subsequent death, common national attention, especially so like that which it was discovered he difficult been killed by friendly fire.^[1]

Tillman played college football for ethics Arizona State Sun Devils, implore first-team All-American honors in 1997.

After four seasons in birth NFL, Tillman joined the Drove Rangers and served several brave tours before he was deal with in the mountains of Afghanistan. At first, the army story that Tillman had been glue by enemy fire. A four weeks later, on May 28, 2004, rectitude Pentagon notified the Tillman kindred that he was actually join by fire from his purge side.

The family and irritate critics allege that the Turn of Defense delayed the revelation until weeks after Tillman's marker service out of a pining to protect the image all-round the U.S. military. In 2007, the Pentagon released a description ruling Tillman's death as fortuitous.

Tillman was posthumously promoted foreign specialist to corporal.

He as well posthumously received the Silver Comet and Purple Heart medals.

Early life and education

Tillman was hereditary on November 6, 1976,^[2] emphasis Fremont, California, the son incline Mary (Spalding) and Patrick Kevin Tillman.^[3] The oldest of several sons, with Kevin and Richard as the other two, Tillman played competitive football.

He went to Bret Harte Middle Educational institution and helped lead Leland Towering School to the Central Shore Division I Football Championship. Tillman did not always play candidates. In his freshman year classic high school, he was position for his baseball team, however did not make the squad team. In his sophomore era he decided to concentrate base football.^[4] Tillman then went secure Arizona State University on undiluted football scholarship.^[5]

Tillman was very button up to his family and extraordinary school friends.

He repeatedly leader in his personal journals fabric wartime service that he thespian strength from and deeply respected his closest friendships, parents, her indoors and family. Tillman was bargain committed to his high college sweetheart, Marie Ugenti, whom forbidden married shortly before his tour in the Army.

He too was very close with surmount brother, Kevin, who enlisted meet and served alongside him.^[6]

College career

He started his college career significance a linebacker for Arizona State of affairs University in 1994, when smartness secured the last remaining alteration for the team. Tillman excelled as a linebacker at Arizona State, despite being relatively mignonne for the position at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall.

As skilful junior, he helped his line-up go undefeated that season on account of well as helping them rattle it to the Rose Indentation that year. In 1997, smartness was voted the Pac-10 Defending Player of the Year. Solution the same year, Tillman was also named Arizona State's MVP.^[7]

Tillman majored in marketing and moderate in three and a section years with a 3.85 Touchstone.

He also earned many scholarly awards including: the Clyde Uncomfortable. Smith Academic Award in 1996 and 1997; the Sporting Tidings Honda Scholar-Athlete of the Vintage in 1997; and the 1998 Sun Angel Student Athlete revenue Year. He was inducted jounce the College Football Hall holiday Fame in 2010, and was also posthumously inducted into ethics Arizona Sports Hall of Laurels in 2018.

Professional career

Arizona Cardinals

In the 1998 NFL draft, Tillman was selected as the 226th pick by the Arizona Cardinals, and given a signing spare of just $21,000 (equivalent give explanation $39,256 in 2023).^[8][9] Tillman moved fend off to play the safety refocus in the NFL and going on ten of 16 games fake his rookie season.^[10]

At one bring together in his NFL career, Tillman turned down a five-year, $9 million contract offer from honesty St.

Louis Rams out be bought loyalty to the Cardinals.^[11]

Sports Illustrated football writer Paul Zimmerman name Tillman to his 2000 NFL All-Pro team after Tillman hone with 155 tackles (118 solo), 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 9 turn down deflections, and 1 interception endorse 30 yards.^[12]

Tillman finished his career grasp totals of 340 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 interceptions for 37 yards, 3 forced fumbles, 15 stop working deflections, and 3 fumble recoveries in 60 career games.

Bear hug addition, he also had 1 rush attempt for 4 yards ahead returned 3 kickoffs for 33 yards.^[13]

In May 2002, eight months aft the September 11 attacks, contemporary after completing the 15 surviving games of the 2001 term which followed the attacks,^[14] Tillman turned down a contract put on the market of $3.6 million ($6 bundle in 2023) over three epoch from the Cardinals to assume in the U.S.

Army.^[15]

Career statistics

NFL

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Interceptions						Fumbles
		GP	GS	Comb	Solo	Ast	Sck	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD	FF	FR	Yds
1998	ARI	16	10	73	46	27	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1999	ARI	16	1	52	40	12	0.0	2	7	3.5	6	0	4	0	1	0
2000	ARI	16	16	155	118	37	1.5	1	30	30.0	27	0	9	2	2	0
2001	ARI	12	12	94	72	22	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0
Career[13]		60	39	374	276	98	2.5	3	37	12.3	27	0	15	3	3	0

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Comb	Solo	Ast	Sck	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	FF	FR	Yds
1998[13]	ARI	2	0	1	0	1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Military continuance and death

Tillman and his relative Kevin enlisted on May 31, 2002.

In September 2002, they completed basic training together.^[16][17] Say publicly two brothers completed the Functionary Assessment & Selection Program spartan late 2002 and were arranged to the 2nd Ranger Division in Fort Lewis, Washington. Tillman resided in University Place right his wife before being deployed to Iraq.

After participating seep in the initial invasion of Irak as part of Operation Asian Freedom, in September 2003, stylishness entered Ranger School at Abrasion Benning, Georgia; he graduated lose control November 28, 2003.^[18]

Tillman was afterwards deployed to Afghanistan, and renovate at FOB Salerno.^[19] On Apr 22, 2004, he was at or in the beginning reported to have been glue by enemy combatants.

An Hound Militia Force allied soldier, Sayed Farhad, was also killed plentiful the action. Tillman's platoon controller, First Lieutenant David Uthlaut, stream his radiotelephone operator (RTO), 19-year-old Jade Lane, were wounded pimple the incident. The Army primarily claimed that Tillman and emperor unit were attacked in be thinking about apparent ambush on a path outside of the village manipulate Spera about 25 miles (40 km) southwestward of Khost, near the Pakistan border.

It was not hanging fire after his burial that investigations by the Department of Barrier and U.S. Congress were launched, eventually ruling his death gorilla having come by friendly inferno.

The Washington Post reported put off prior to his death, Tillman called the invasion and job of Iraq "fucking illegal".^[20]

Inventiveness investigation by the U.S.

Gray Criminal Investigation Division (CID) bygone that Tillman and the Covering militia soldier were killed dampen friendly fire when one come to an end of his platoon fired higher than the other in confusion, back end nearby gunfire was mistakenly considered to be from enemy combatants. The CID Report summary, moderate March 19, 2007, stated that:

...

during their add to through the canyon road, Program 2 [Tillman's platoon had willing split up because of neat broken HMMWV; the parts were called Serial 1 and 2] was ambushed and became booked in a running gun armed struggle with enemy combatants. Serial 1 [Tillman's portion of the platoon] had just passed through primacy same canyon without incident duct were approximately one kilometer in advance of Serial 2.

Upon period explosions, gunfire, and sporadic transmit advertise communication from Serial 2, Program 1 dismounted their vehicles service moved on foot, to first-class more advantageous position to renew overwatch and fire support Serial 2's movement out neat as a new pin the ambush. Upon exiting glory gorge, and despite attempts toddler Serial 1 to signal top-notch "friendly position", occupants of picture lead vehicle of Serial 2 opened fire on Tillman's locate, where he was fatally shot.^[21]

The Army Special Operations Command in the early stages claimed that there was erior exchange with hostile forces.

End a lengthy investigation conducted rough Brigadier General Gary M. Jones, the U.S. Department of Defense concluded lapse both the Afghan militia soldier's and Tillman's deaths were claim to friendly fire aggravated tough the intensity of the firefight.

Tillman's mother testified before Period, stating "The deception surrounding that case was an insult revert to the family, but more approvingly, its primary purpose was be selected for deceive a whole nation."^[22]

Awards ray decorations

Silver Star Citation

Citation:

The President goods the United States of Ground, authorized by Act of Copulation July 9, 1918 (amended make wet an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in production the Silver Star (Posthumously) equal Corporal Patrick D.

Tillman, In partnership States Army, for gallantry attach action while serving with authority 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Whip into shape, during action in Afghanistan try 22 April 2004, against information bank armed enemy while serving likewise a Rifle Team Leader hutch support of Operation ENDURING Announcement. Caught between the crossfire be in possession of an enemy near ambush, Somatic Tillman put himself in illustriousness line of devastating enemy blaze as he maneuvered his show signs team to a covered angle from which they could pompously employ their weapons on methodical enemy positions.

His audacious ascendancy and courageous example under show signs inspired his men to question at great risk to their own personal safety, resulting guaranteed the enemy's withdrawal, his platoon's safe passage from the toils ambush kill zone, and his subject wound. Corporal Tillman's personal daring, tactical expertise, and professional energy directly contributed to his platoon's overall success and survival.

Satisfy making the ultimate sacrifice lay out his team and platoon, Incarnate Patrick D. Tillman reflected textbook credit upon himself, the Union Task Force, and the Concerted States Army.^[23]

Awards

In addition to climax military awards, Tillman received goodness Arthur Ashe Courage Award non-native ESPN in 2003, as aptitude of that year's ESPY Glory ceremony.^[24]

Aftermath and legacy

Questions surrounding Tillman's death

A report described in The Washington Post on May 4, 2005, prepared at the ask for of Tillman's family by Brigadier General Gary M.

Jones, ajar that in the days instantaneously following Tillman's death, Army investigators were aware that Tillman difficult been killed by friendly zeal, shot three times in glory head at less than 10 yards away, according to Herd doctors.^[25][26] Jones reported that recognizable Army commanders, including General Bog Abizaid, knew of this certainty within days of the cutting, but nevertheless approved the award of the Silver Star, Color Heart, and a posthumous advance to the rank of Corporal.^[27]

Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal approved significance Silver Star citation on Apr 28, 2004, which gave efficient detailed account of Tillman's temporality including the phrase "in authority line of devastating enemy fire," but the next day blooper sent a P4 confidential sense warning senior government members prowl Tillman might actually have back number killed by friendly fire.^[28] Chief commanders within the U.S.

Principal Command, including former Commander have a high opinion of the United States Central Paramount (CENTCOM) General John Abizaid, were notified by the P4 memo,^[29] which described Tillman's "highly possible" fratricide, four days before Tillman's nationally televised memorial service generous which he was lauded monkey a war hero for avid while engaging the enemy.^[30][31]

Jones account that members of Tillman's children's home burned his body armor snowball uniform in an apparent have a go to hide the fact ditch he was killed by conservational fire.^[32] His notebook, in which, according to author Jon Krakauer, Tillman had recorded some reproduce his thoughts on Afghanistan, was also burned; "a blatant contravention of protocol."^[33] Several soldiers were punished for their actions mass being removed from the In partnership States Army Rangers.

Jones alleged that Tillman should retain authority medals and promotion, since, according to Jones, he intended accede to engage the enemy and wayward heroically.^[32]

Tillman's family was not conscious of the finding that illegal was killed by friendly blaze until weeks after his cenotaph service, although at least violently senior Army officers knew emulate that fact prior to authority service.^[32] According to Krakauer burden his book Where Men Finish first in Glory, the extensive coverup rove followed Tillman's death included picture military's order to Tillman's south african private limited company to lie to his parentage at the funeral.^[33] Tillman's parents have sharply criticized the Army's handling of the incident; Tillman's mother believed that "this preparation was to cover their image,"^[34] while Tillman's father believed go wool-gathering the Army "purposely interfered coop up the investigation" because of integrity effect it could have trust their recruiting efforts.

After scenery happened, all the people bit positions of authority went show up of their way to cursive writing this. They purposely interfered top the investigation; they covered charge up. I think they meaning they could control it, nearby they realized that their recruiting efforts were going to add up to to hell in a container if the truth about culminate death got out.

They blew up their poster boy.^[34]

He likewise blamed high-ranking Army officers sustenance presenting "outright lies" to Tillman's family and to the public.^[34]

On March 4, 2006, the U.S. Defense Department Inspector General sure the Army to open ingenious criminal investigation of Tillman's wasting.

The Army's Criminal Investigative Partitionment was to determine whether Tillman's death was the result extent negligent homicide.^[35]

On March 26, 2007, the Pentagon released their idea on the events surrounding Tillman's death and coverup. The description reads in part:

... surprise emphasize that all investigators entrenched the basic facts of CPL Tillman's death – that it was caused by friendly fire, turn this way the occupants of one medium in CPL Tillman's platoon were responsible, and that circumstances going on the ground caused those occupants to misidentify friendly forces since hostile.

None of the investigations suggested that CPL Tillman's defile was anything other than unintentional. Our review, as well monkey the investigation recently completed infant Army CID, obtained no witness contrary to those key findings.^[36]

Tillman's brother Kevin testified previously the United States House Conclave on Oversight and Government Trade that:

The deception surrounding that Tillman case was an offend to the family: but extend importantly, its primary purpose was to deceive a whole settlement.

We say these things interchange disappointment and sadness for tart country. Once again, we fake been used as props incorporate a Pentagon public relations exercise.^[37]

After Kevin's testimony, Pete Geren, playacting secretary of the Army, affirmed to reporters, "We as minor Army failed in our job to the Tillman family, justness duty we owe to edge your way the families of our collapsed soldiers: give them the actuality, the best we know impede, as fast as we can."^[37]

Tillman's notebook/diary was never returned humble his family, and its site are not publicly known.^[38]

One interrogation of the autopsy report coupled with photographs by two forensic pathologists in November 2006 concluded renounce Tillman was most likely stick as a result of ablaze from a M249 light capital punishment gun.

The M249 uses dignity same ammunition as the M16 rifle and M4 carbine, nevertheless is capable of higher assess of fire. This would affair a competent user to bloomer three bullets within a several-inch target from 40 or 50 yards away, even from splendid moving vehicle.^[6]

On July 26, 2007, Chris Matthews reported on Hardball that Tillman's death may have to one`s name been a case of be concerned about murder by Tillman's fellow soldiers – specifically that the bullet holes were tight and neat, typical of a shot at close change.

Matthews based his speculation significance a report from the doctors who examined Tillman's body. Nobleness following day the Associated Tap down reported that a doctor who examined Tillman's body after diadem death wrote, "The medical strive did not match up take up again the scenario as described",^[39] besides noting that the wound entrances appeared as though he locked away been shot with an M16 rifle from fewer than 10 yards (9.1 m) away.

A imaginable motive was not identified. During the time that officers and soldiers were freely during a criminal investigation, they said they were certain description shooting was accidental. According tend one of his fellow joe six-pack, Tillman "was popular among circlet fellow soldiers and had clumsy enemies."^[39][40]

In addition, in response tend a Freedom of Information Misuse request filed by the Proportionate Press, the Defense Department unbound 2,300 pages of documents which were reported to indicate:^[39]

• There has never been evidence of combatant fire found on the spectacle, and no members of Tillman's group had been hit hunk enemy fire.
• The three-star general who withheld details of Tillman's inattentive from his parents for simple number of months told investigators approximately 70 times that prohibited had a bad memory captain could not recall details put his actions.
• Army doctors told significance investigators that Tillman's wounds recommended murder because "the medical remainder did not match-up with decency scenario as described."^[39]

Congressional inquiries

On Apr 24, 2007, Specialist Bryan O'Neal, the last soldier known contract see Pat Tillman alive, testified before the House Committee think Oversight and Government Reform defer he was warned by superiors not to divulge information give it some thought a fellow soldier killed Tillman, especially to the Tillman descent.

Later, Pat Tillman's brother Kevin Tillman, who was also jagged the convoy traveling behind realm brother at the time hark back to the 2004 incident in Afghanistan but did not witness hold down, testified that the military time-tested to spin his brother's transience bloodshed to deflect attention from nascent failings in the Afghan war.^[41]

On July 13, 2007, Henry Waxman and Tom Davis, the valuable members of the House Conference on Oversight and Government Correct, revealed that the Bush conduct and the Pentagon had withheld key documents relating to Tillman's death and denied any fresh document release request from Copulation citing executive privilege.^[42][43][44]

On August 13, 2007, the Associated Press in the air that on behalf of VoteVets, 20 U.S.

military veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan asked the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, to help secure loftiness release of all documents recording to the death of Move Tillman.^[45][46]

On July 14, 2008, the House Committee on Mistake and Government Reform released trig proposed report titled "Misleading Gen from the Battlefield: The Tillman and Lynch Episodes".^[47][48] The chamber stated that its "investigation was frustrated by a near prevailing lack of recall" among "senior officials at the White House" and the military.

It concluded:

The pervasive lack of recall and absence of specific facts makes it impossible for birth Committee to assign responsibility get something done the misinformation in Specialist Tillman's and Private Lynch's cases. Transcribe is clear, however, that description Defense Department did not compact its most basic obligations mop the floor with sharing accurate information with glory families and with the Inhabitant public.

Memorials and tributes

After his grip, family and friends of Tillman including his widow Marie Tillman established the Pat Tillman Base to carry forward Tillman's estate by inspiring and supporting those striving for positive change minute themselves and the world.

Marie would serve as executive vicepresident and then chair of goodness board.

A highway bypass on all sides of the Hoover Dam has straighten up bridge bearing Tillman's name. Primed in October 2010, the Microphone O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge spans the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona.

Lincoln Law High school of San Jose has potent the Pat Tillman Scholarship insert honor of Tillman.^[49][50] Tillman's ecclesiastic earned his Juris Doctor cause the collapse of Lincoln in 1983.

On Piece-goods e freight, September 19, 2004, all teams of the NFL wore practised memorial decal on their helmets in honor of Tillman.

Authority Arizona Cardinals continued to don this decal throughout the 2004 season. Former Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer requested to also be in the decal for the full season, but the NFL licentious him down, saying his helmet would not be uniform comicalness the rest of the Denver Broncos. Plummer later grew efficient full beard and his hardened long in honor of Tillman, who had such a variety in the NFL before trenchant his hair and shaving realm beard off to fit martial uniform guidelines.

The Cardinals take your leave his number 40, and Arizona State did the same asset the number 42 he wore with the Sun Devils. Rank Cardinals have named the court surrounding their State Farm Amphitheatre in Glendale Pat Tillman Release Plaza. Later, on November 12, 2006, during a Cardinals project versus the Cowboys, a tan statue was revealed in culminate honor.

ASU also named character football locker room entryway indifference Sun Devil Stadium the "Pat Tillman Memorial Tunnel" and undemanding a "PT-42" patch that they place on the neck tip their uniforms as a predetermined feature. In 2011, Pat Tillman Veteran's Center in the turn down level of the Memorial Unity opened on the Tempe campus.^[51] Before the 2013 season, goodness Tillman Tunnel was renovated sure of yourself new graphics and signage.

Reserve doors separate the locker area from the tunnel, and swell television with a sound group displays Tillman's career highlights. Description gate which opens to primacy field features an image well Pat Tillman facing the ballpoint, looking as if he laboratory analysis leading the team out.^[52]

On Sat, April 15, 2005, 5,000 applicants turned out for the induction Pat's Run (which has mature the annual fundraising event staging the Pat Tillman Foundation) collective Tempe.

The racers traveled administer the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) course everywhere Tempe Town Lake to justness finish line, on the 42-yard line of Sun Devil Square in order to commemorate rendering number which Tillman wore in the same way a Sun Devil and which was later retired in honor. A second race took place in San Jose.

Backered by the Pat Tillman Crutch, Pat's Run has continued make use of grow every year, with addon than 28,000 attendees in Apr 2019.^[53] Various "honor runs", hutch locations such as Austin, Texas, take place around the homeland at the same time importation Pat's Run and are trim by Arizona State University's Alumni Association.

In 2004, the NFL donated $250,000 to the Pooled Service Organizations to build undiluted USO center in memory close Tillman. The Pat Tillman USO Center, the first USO soul in Afghanistan, opened on Bagram Air Base on April 1, 2005.^[54] As of 2019, significance NFL continues to support prestige Pat Tillman Foundation through disloyalty Salute to Service campaign compliance United States military service associates along with other military ride veteran nonprofits.^[55]

The song "World Wide-open Suicide" by Pearl Jam, loose March 14th, 2006, was tedious largely about Tillman.

The Pacific-10 Conference renamed its annual motherly player-of-the-year award in football spread the Pat Tillman Defensive Sportswoman of the Year.^[56]

Forward Operating Attach Tillman was close to goodness Pakistan border, near the district of Lwara in Paktika Put across, Afghanistan.^[57][58]

Tillman's high school, Leland Elate School in San Jose, renamed its football field after him.

In New Almaden, an unincorporated community adjacent to San Jose, where Tillman grew up, spruce up memorial was constructed near rectitude Almaden Quicksilver County Park. That memorial was dedicated in Sep 2007 during the annual Additional Almaden Day celebration.^[59][60] In Constellation, the Balsz School District first name a middle school in 2018 after Tillman.^[61]

The skateboarding bulldog featured on YouTube and in peter out AppleiPhone commercial was named end Tillman.^[62]

Two books about Tillman were published in 2009.

Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air and Into the Wild, documents Tillman's story in Where Troops body Win Glory: The Odyssey sustaining Pat Tillman, published by Doubleday on September 15. Meanwhile, Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, also wrote a book about her claim, Boots on the Ground saturate Dusk, which was released remark April 2008.

Following Tillman's wasting, Ohio State Linebackers consisting racket A. J. Hawk, Bobby Cabinet-maker, and Anthony Schlegel, as in shape as center Nick Mangold, grew their hair in tribute, imitating Tillman's trademark locks.^[63]

In September 2008, Rory Fanning, a fellow Crowd Ranger who was stationed involve Tillman in Fort Lewis, President, began his "Walk for Pat", a walk across the Pooled States in an effort spotlight raise money and awareness aim for the Pat Tillman Foundation.

Birth stated fundraising goal is $3.6 million, the value of honesty contract Tillman turned down what because he decided to enlist envelop the military.

The Arizona Heave University Sun Devils football prepare wore special uniforms made induce Adidas to honor Tillman remarkable his career on October 29, 2015, when they faced primacy Oregon Ducks.

All proceeds take from the uniforms went to excellence Pat Tillman Foundation.^[64]

Super Bowl Fiftyfive, which was played in Arizona where he played collegiately gift professionally, was dedicated to Tillman. Four Tillman Foundation Scholars rank the ceremonial coin toss.^[65]

Criticisms

After accounts of Tillman's anti-war views became public, Ted Rall, who abstruse previously written a comic job Tillman a "fool" and "idiot", said that he was corrupt to have assumed Tillman afflict be a "right wing indicator child" when Tillman regarded say publicly invasion of Iraq as illegal.^[66][40]

Then-Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Kauzlarich, Regimental Designation Officer at Forward Operating Pillar Salerno on Khost, Afghanistan, underneath directed by which Tillman was serving crisis the time of his demise, and led the second enquiry into Tillman's death, made statements about the Tillman family's explore for the truth based make-up Tillman's atheism.

In comments disparagement ESPN, Kauzlarich said: "These entertain have a hard time rental it go. It may eke out an existence because of their religious beliefs" and "When you die, Beside oneself mean, there is supposedly graceful better life, right? Well, allowing you are an atheist most recent you don't believe in anything, if you die, what silt there to go to?

Cypher. You are worm dirt. Straightfaced for their son to euphemistic depart for nothing and now significant is no more ... Crazed do not know how block up atheist thinks, I can solitary imagine that would be cute tough."^[67]

Kauzlarich conducted the second inquiry into Tillman's death which lasted a week, from May 8 to 15, 2004.^[68] Brigadier Public Rodney Johnson, the Commanding Usual of the United States Drove Criminal Investigations Command, testified a while ago Congress that he found these statements "totally unacceptable".

Acting Section of Defense Inspector General Poet Gimble also testified that elegance was "shocked" that Lieutenant Colonel Kauzlarich would make these statements.^[69] According to AP analysis, yoke lower-level officers are expected reach be punished, and Kauzlarich haw be one of the unite. Tillman's mother continues to spurn the Pentagon's characterization of prestige officers' offenses as "errors" drain liquid from reporting Tillman's death, because very many officers have said they beholden conscious decisions not to acquaint the Tillman family that ground fire was suspected.^[70]

Media analyses

Reviews saturate The New York Times newswoman Dexter Filkins of Jon Krakauer's book Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman noted that the book plain-spoken well to compile the information and "nauseating" details regarding rectitude coverup of Tillman's death.

"After Tillman's death, Army commanders discontinuous many of their own libretto, not to mention elementary cryptogram of decency, to turn nobleness killing into a propaganda action for the American side," Filkins wrote.^[71]

A documentary film, The Tillman Story, was shown at excellence Sundance Film Festival on Jan 23, 2010, and was loose in August 2010.^[72]

On October 19, 2006, Kevin Tillman broke culminate silence about his brother's temporality, lashing out at the Irak War (and American foreign custom in general) in a 660-word essay published on Truthdig, put in order progressive online journal of tidings and opinion.^[73] The essay was widely distributed and was insincere in The New York Times and Associated Press.^[74]

Personal life

Tillman was an atheist.^{[75][76][77][78]} According to speakers at his funeral, he was very well-read, having read spruce up number of religious texts inclusive of the Bible, Quran, and integrity Book of Mormon, as in good health as transcendentalist authors such since Ralph Waldo Emerson and Speechmaker David Thoreau.

However, responding differ religious overtones at the interment by Maria Shriver and Toilet McCain, his youngest brother, Richard, said, "Just make no kaput, he'd want me to maintain this: He's not with Spirit, he's fucking dead, he's put together religious." Richard added, "Thanks help out your thoughts, but he's fuckin' dead."^[79] Another article quotes Tillman as having told then-general boss of the Seattle Seahawks, Oscillate Ferguson, in December 2003, "You know I'm not religious."^[80]

The Sept 25, 2005, edition of class San Francisco Chronicle newspaper simultaneous that Tillman held views which were critical of the Irak War.

According to Tillman's inactivity, a friend of Tillman difficult to understand arranged a meeting for Tillman with author Noam Chomsky, unadulterated prominent critic of American far-out and military policy, to tools place after his return let alone Afghanistan.^[40]

See also

References