It has been three years since the death of the NFL star, and we are stuck with more questions than answers.
What really happened to Pat Tillman in Afghanistan? It has been three years since the death of the former Arizona Cardinals Safety and it sounds like there are more questions than answers.
There is a lot of controversy behind how Tillman died. The Army announced this week that nine officers were found “accountable for errors” when it came to how Tillman died.
The controversy continues as a memo obtained by the Associated Press on Friday suggests that a general warned President Bush about the idea of Tillman’s death being a friendly fire incident.
According to the AP article, the general warned in the memo that Bush “might embarrass himself” if he claimed that Tillman died in an ambush. The memo came out a week after Tillman’s death.
How it all began
Tillman spent several seasons playing for the Arizona Cardinals, after playing his college career at Arizona State. Tillman left the NFL after the September 11 attacks in 2001, to join the Army.
Tillman’s grandfather fought in World War Two. Leaving him with the feeling that he should join up and fight for his country.
Many Americans joined the Armed Forces in light of the September 11th attacks, it was considered the patriotic thing to do at the time.
Tillman rose to the ranks quickly and joined the Rangers along with his brother Kevin, a baseball player who left to also join the Army. Both would graduate from the Rangers program. After tours apart from one another, one in Afghanistan, the other in Iraq, the two would be together for Pat’s final journey.
His death and the investigation
Pat Tillman died on April 22, 2004 in a remote region in Afghanistan. Initial reports suggested that Tillman died by ambush attack. That was believed to be the cause of death until a month later at Tillman’s memorial service when reports came out that the Corporal died in a friendly fire incident.
Shortly after the memorial service, an investigation was called for by the military. The findings suggest that Tillman, who received a Silver Star for his heroic actions, did not die from an ambush, but from friendly fire from his fellow soldiers.
Three years later
There are very few things we know about the death of Pat Tillman. We know that he did not die from ambush by Taliban soldiers, but from friendly fire. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be the top story on CNN, or be a front page story on the New York Times.
Was there a cover-up or not? Tillman’s mother told ESPN’s Dan Patrick this week, that there was a cover-up. It’s hard not to believe her. All indications point to a cover-up.
No matter what though, Pat Tillman gave up a life of playing in the NFL to fight for the country he loved.
