Tillman's Parents Are Critical Of Army

[mespock]

Former NFL player Pat Tillman's family is lashing out against the Army, saying that the military's investigations into Tillman's friendly-fire death in Afghanistan last year were a sham and that Army efforts to cover up the truth have made it harder for them to deal with their loss.

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."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/washpost/20050523/ts_washpost/tillman_s_parents_are_critical_of_army

 

[JohnnyBz00LS]

You beat me to the punch of posting this story.

Better be careful, those who seek the TRUTH and reveal the TRUTH, regardless of how ugly and embarrasing that TRUTH may be, will be doomed to being labeled a "Traitor" by those who can't, or refuse to see the TRUTH instead of the :bsflag: spoon-fed to us by our government.

 

[Kbob]

Sad fact of life: friendly fire occurs in every war. Every person that joins the military knows this. I'm sorry for their loss, but blaming his death on Bush is what is disgusting to me.

 

[MonsterMark]

I agree with the family. This is sad and the government owes them full disclosure. That said, when our country is at war, we need all the help we can get, and a "friendly" fire death that was made even more tragic due the high-profile individual involved doesn't make amtters easier. So what to do?

Do you come right out and say, listen, this American hero was shot and killed by his own people, tragically wasting his life while he was engaging the enemy or do you just say he was shot and killed while engaging the enemy, possibly by friendly fire as was originally reported? And the fact that this guy was a professional football player, who gave up millions to defend his country and was mistakenly shot by one of his own is tragic enough, but I would do as the government did. Put the best light on a bad situation. I know I felt like :q:q:q:q when I heard of his death. To tell me his life was wasted in a friendly fire incident is not necessary, but certainly the family deserves to know the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

May Pat Tillman soul rest in peace. That guy had more balls and a greater love for his country than any of us will ever experience.

 

[mespock]

Tillman's death was sad just as all death is sad!

To sensationalize his death making up a story was wrong, then to come out with the truth later and say it was friendly fire was wrong. Yes friendly fire deaths happen but how Tillman's death was first made so heroic and then sensationalize his heroisms was wrong.

When I first heard of Tillman's death, the story seemed made up like Hollywood story of a football giving up his football career to join the army and do his duety to his country! Then in battle this football hero charges into battle attacking just as he did when he played football, wow a movie in the making. But when the true story came out! What really happened and to try and down play how they created the story to sensationalize his death was wrong for his family and for the public.

Was he a hero? I would have to say sure! As I feel anyone who puts his life in harms way! But to make a false story of over the truth was wrong.

His death should have been played just like most death in war are made. A young American gave his life in war. For that he was a hero no matter where the fire came from! I is sad that our solders can die from friendly fire, but yes this can not be helped at time.

But to glorify his death with a sensationalize story that was not true was wrong!

 

[Kbob]

I didn't read the linked article as I thought you posted it in its entirety. I keyed off the phrase "they BELIEVE the military and the govt. created . . . ." That to me is a statement of opinion, not fact. Sorry for the confusion.

EDIT: forgot the !!!!!!!!!!