Pat Tillman

Tomorrow is the second anniversary of the death of solider Pat Tillman, the pro football player who left the Arizona NFL team to join the military in the fight against terrorists based in Afghanistan.

You probably don’t know that the Pentagon has now launched its fourth “official” investigation into Tillman’s death.

When Tillman died, the Pentagon concocted a phony story about the Army Ranger having died in a firefight with the Taliban enemy. They awarded Tillman the Silver Star.

Only later, after some investigative journalism, did the Pentagon begin to tell the truth: Tillman was killed by “friendly fire.”

Tillman was blown to pieces by .50-caliber rounds fired by his fellow Army Rangers. When was killed, Tillman was on a canyon wall, screaming his name, waving his arms, and setting off smoke grenades to signal he was an American soldier.

So, a terrible, tragic accident. And terrible, tragic accidents do happen in a war zone.

So, why did the Rangers burn his blood-soaked uniform and body armor, and destroy other evidence?

Tillman’s father, Patrick, told the New York Times the Pentagon covered it up because they had blown up “their poster boy.”

In other words, the Tillman story of leaving a lucrative football career to fight for his country was more valuable for recruitment purposes and maintaining public support for the war than honoring his sacrifice with the truth.

Said Mary Tillman, “The fact that he was the ultimate team player and watched his own men kill him is heartbreaking and tragic. The fact they lied about it afterwards is disgusting.”

The Tillman’s are divorced, and shun the publicity the story has generated. They kept quiet for months believing that was the honorable thing to do. They’ve kept their anger and agony to themselves.

I told a friend of mine, a WW II veteran I admire and respect, about the Tillman case. He said it was nothing compared to the cover-up of military accidents that claimed the lives of many more servicemen than Pat Tillman. He was not swayed by my argument that the Pentagon’s conduct was reprehensible.

Regardless, the fourth official investigation is underway, and my friend agreed with me on one point, somebody below the top echelon of the Pentagon will take the fall. The chickenhawks at the top will come away unscathed.

--Drzal