May 23, 2005
A Different Kind Of Soldier
Pat Tillman's death in Afghanistan last year came as a shock to the nation. He had been an NFL player but abandoned that life to join the Army as an enlisted man with his brother soon after September 11, 2001. He spent time in Iraq before being sent to hunt for Osama Bin Laden in the wild country near the Pakistani border. Initially, his death was reported as the result of a firefight with Al Qaeda/Taliban fighters. Only later was it revealed that Tillman was the victim of a friendly fire accident.
Tillman's parents are just now talking to the media about the anger they feel over their son's death. They contend that the army lied to them and the nation about the true nature of Tillman's death long after they knew what really happened and used their son's death as a patriotic rallying point and recruitment tool.
I don't think any of us can imagine what it must be like to lose a child. Pat Tillman's parents probably never imagined that two of their sons would end up in the army in a combat zone. Pat could’ve had a very comfortable life in the NFL, but he gave that up (at least temporarily) to make a sacrifice for his nation. He probably never imagined he would be making the ultimate sacrifice and that it would be at the hands of his brother soldiers.
Did the US Army lie to the Tillmans and the American public? To the extent that they omitted the early facts of the case, yes. Did they use his enlistment as a recruiting tool? Most likely, for they have done so in the past: Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable and many other famous people served in the army and its air corps during World War Two and the army played their involvement to the hilt. Were the men in Tillman’s unit told to keep quiet about what really happened? It looks as though they were, although we will probably never know for sure.
But I have to wonder what the point is. Despite their anguish, no amount vilifying of the army by Pat Tillman’s parents will bring him back. The army told them the truth when they knew for sure what that truth was. I know from personal experience that every accident and infraction in the military is investigated thoroughly; everyone involved is questioned over and over again. When the persons involved are in a combat zone, I’m sure it takes time to assemble the story. If there had been negligence on the part of the soldiers who shot Tillman, you can rest assured they would have been punished, if for no other reason than to maintain unit trust and loyalty.
Does this story accomplish anything? Not really. It brings no relief to the Tillmans (I can imagine how many times they were called by reporters before they consented to an interview). It only serves to destroy the morale of the men Pat served with, his brother being one of those men. Is that what he would’ve wanted?
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The Army covered it up. They deserve to get blasted. They made their bed, now they can sleep in it. You and I both know if the Army was worried about morale they should have told the truth in the first place. This was a PR deal all the way.
Posted by: Sly![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.opaquelucidity.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 23, 2005 11:39 AM
I have to wonder, though, how much of the "coverup" (if you want to call it that) was caused by local commanders worried about their own behinds and how much of it was the brainchild of the Pentagon.
I admit that I have a severe bias against the MSM when they report on the military because they so often get it wrong.
Posted by: Matt_D at May 23, 2005 02:11 PM
I think they knew an NFL player was killed by friendly fire and then tried to cover it up. You know their PR guys were keeping track of what Tillman's platoon was doing. They needed good press.
If he had to die they didn't want it to be friendly fire. It would have been much easier if were a high school drop out from Idaho.
at May 23, 2005 04:25 PM
You have got to be frikkin' kidding me. You don't know what the point is???
The point is that a man gave his LIFE for the country, and the Army lied to his family and the nation about the FACTS of his death. That's the point.
When you lose a child, your world falls apart around you. Everything about that situation is devastating. To see anything else is to not see the truth. For me, anything you saw was a facade of the inner pain that I felt while I stood greeting mourners and well-wishers. I was crushed.
If someone were to come back and tell me now that they were wrong, or that something could have been done that would have lead to a different result, heads would roll.
The simple fact of the matter is that when a soldier signs up for duty, he forgoes some of his rights. Like maybe, the right (or ability) to sleep good at night. The right to a warm bed, or good food. He may lose an arm, or a leg. He makes these sacrifices because of pride, and honor.
A soldier may let go of many things during and after his service, but to have his family lied to is a complete injustice. The truth may hurt, but at least it provides closure. What does this provide? Hurt? Anger? Outrage? Are those the accurate descriptions of our military?
How's that for the point?
Posted by: Troy Overton at May 23, 2005 04:43 PM
Did you read the entire article, Troy? The Army's defense is that they told the Tillmans what had happened once their investigation was concluded. I'm not saying it's much of a defense, but I don't want to say that is was a concerted effort to lie to his parents.
I believe a false assumption was made until facts showed otherwise. Was that wrong? Yes. But the article does NOTHING except dredge up a story that we all already know. Nothing, nothing, nothing will bring Pat Tillman back and that's sad. But honestly, I don't think his parents' interviews with the media is doing anything for the men still alive and in harm's way.
Posted by: Matt_D at May 23, 2005 05:34 PM
Matt,
My point about this is that "false assumptions" concerning a man's life, and death, regardless of being known publicly are simply not acceptable. Especially when that man paid the ultimate price for the two of us to sit here and talk about it.
I concede that his parents might find a better outlet to voice their opinion, (and outrage) but I can't say I wouldn't do the same if I were in their shoes.
Posted by: Troy Overton at May 23, 2005 09:32 PM
I find the fact that the soldiers who killed him tried to hide their deed by burning his body armor to be the worst thing about this story.
I understand that friendly fire accidents happen during war and while it's a terrible thing I can't think of a way to totally avoid it.
The soldiers who shot him should have to answer for trying to cover it up. I can't blame the parents for how they feel. How much of this crap do we have to stomach in the name of patriotism?
Posted by: David at May 23, 2005 09:38 PM
Troy,
“paid the ultimate price for the two of us to sit here and talk about it.”? How so?
We went into Afghanistan to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, which we haven’t managed to do over the last two years. I won’t even mention the invasion of Iraq. I fail to understand how either of these actions protects our right of free speech, although I fully support getting bin Laden for the purpose of trying him for the 9/11 attacks.
The invasion of Iraq did absolutely nothing to protect our rights and everything to diminish our rights ala the Patriot Act and other “Homeland Security” legislation.
Care to elaborate?
at May 23, 2005 09:59 PM
Kevin,
he was defending our freedom and freedoms whether he was hunting Osoma, standing guard duty in Iowa or securing disaster areas in Asia. For you to say any active duty member of our armed forces is not defending our freedom at any given time is not right. They are working 24/7. They are always defending our freedom. I don't care if he was a cook on a hospital ship in Pacific. Show some respect for our service members that allow you the "freedom of speech" to post to this blog.
at May 24, 2005 01:16 PM
Sly,
You misunderstand me, I have nothing but respect for the men and women who serve in the armed forces.
It's not the soldiers I'm ranting against, it's the mission itself. Our military's mission is to protect the US, it's citizens and interests around the world as well as rendering aid in times of disaster, regardless of location.
It's mission is not to satisfy the revenge fantasies of a president who demanded ginned up evidence to warrant an invasion of a country that was no threat to us as a people or any of our national interests.
I can't think of a worse display of disrespect for our citizens in uniform than to misuse them.
at May 24, 2005 06:58 PM
Kevin,
I would argue that the US has interests in the Middle east and Iraq. By your own post we can then agree that the military does have a reason to be there. Fulfilling it's military mission.You are welcome to your opinion that they are being misused. I can tell you from first hand experience that serving this country, and from reading many books / reports on the different branches of the Armed Forces and their missions, what you call misuse is just day to day getting the job done that everyone else is afraid or unwilling to do. If you believe that the President has the US Military in Iraq for fantasy I would say you are in the minority. I don't feel the American people would put up with it. He was re-elected. That should tell us something.
at May 25, 2005 08:54 AM