Eurasia Press & News
WASHINGTON – A Pentagon watchdog has found fault with four generals and five other officers for mistakes following the death of United States Army Ranger and former professional football star Pat Tillman in Afghanistan.
Army investigators found that Tillman was killed by fellow US soldiers who believed they were engaging enemy fighters on April 22, 2004.
The Army initially told Tillman’s family he died from enemy fire and did not alter that account until a month later, even though officers quickly knew that he was likely killed by US troops. Only after a memorial service and the posthumous award of a Silver Star did Army officials notify his family that he had died from US fire.
The Pentagon’s Inspector General, Thomas Gimble, also found three previous investigations were deficient and that information presented in support of the Silver Star was incorrect. General William Wallace, the head of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, is to look into the actions of all the officers criticised in the report.
It found Army Lieutenant General Phillip Kensinger knew before Tillman’s memorial service that he had died from US fire but did not tell his family. Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal failed to inform authorities that the information for the Silver Star was inaccurate.
