WASHINGTON: Family members of former NFL football star Pat Tillman, who was an army ranger and was killed in Afghanistan, have denounced a Pentagon investigation which ruled out any criminal wrongdoing in his death or any efforts to cover up what exactly happened.
In a statement Monday night, close relatives of Tillman said the testimony released along with the Pentagon's report revealed an "overpowering suggestion of violations of law, regulation and policy that reaches from the vehicle that fired on Pat and took his life to the Office of the Secretary of Defense."
The Pentagon investigators found that Tillman was killed by fellow U.S. soldiers on 22 April 2004 who believed they were engaging enemy fighters.
Pentagon had initially told the family that he died from enemy fire and continued to maintain that stand although it knew well he was killed by U.S. troops.
The report by the acting inspector general Thomas Gimble of the military's investigative branch, found that nine army officers, including four generals, were aware that Tillman died in firing by fellow soldiers and not by Taliban guerrillas. The investigators had recommended that the officers be held accountable for such misleading statements about the death. The investigators, however, did not find any intentional game plan to cover up the incident.
An accompanying report from the army's criminal investigation command found no criminal wrong doing.
The investigators blamed Lt Gen Stanley McChrystal, commander of the joint special operations command. They said he was "accountable for the inaccurate and misleading assertions contained in the papers recommending that Tillman be awarded the Silver Star. They also criticized Lt Gen Philip Kensinger, who is now retired and who was in charge of army special operations, and Tillman's regimental commander, now Brig. Gen. James Nixon. There were other unnamed officers involved in the incident.
The members of the Congress were angrier at the way the incident was handled. They pressed Pentagon for action.
The report presented more questions than answers, said Democratic Representative Mike Honda, who represents Tillman's home district. Republican presidential hopeful Senator John McCain described it as an inexcusable cover-up.
At a news conference Monday, acting army secretary Pete Geren and Gen Richard Cody, army vice chief of staff, profusely apologized to Tillman's family for the lapse.
Tillman by all standards had been an American hero. A footballer from his school days, he had joined the Arizona Cardinals, before offering to serve the army along with his brother and giving up a three-year, $3.6 million contract extension. He said he wanted to defend the country after the 11 September terror attacks. However, the brothers, who wanted to fight in Afghanistan, were sent to Iraq to participate in the U.S.-led invasion of the country. Tillman had told his friends, he was opposed to the U.S. action in Iraq. The brothers were later sent to Afghanistan.
While on a patrol duty near the Pakistan border, he was hit by a bullet shot by fellow soldiers as he advanced to a canyon where suspected Taliban guerrillas were camping.
On the recommendations of his command, he was awarded the Silver Star medal for bravery against the enemy. Pentagon said he had been killed by the Taliban and president Bush praised him for the inspiration he provided on and off the football field and for his ultimate sacrifice in the war on terror.
Meanwhile, Gen. William Wallace, a top commander of the U.S. army, now heading the army's training and doctrine command, has been asked to examine the investigation report and determine what disciplinary action needed to be taken.
Geren said the posthumous Silver Star awarded to Tillman will not be withdrawn, but the citation will be changed.
