March 28, 2007 3:23 PM
- Text
Katie Couric's Notebook: Pat Tillman
Hi, everyone.
Video: In 2002, Pat Tillman gave up a $3.6 million dollar NFL contract to serve his country in the wake of September. 11. Two years later, he was killed in Afghanistan.
President Bush called him "an inspiration on and off the football field."
But a new Pentagon report finds that in its rush to honor a high profile hero, the system failed miserably in telling the truth about Tillman's death - leaving his family in the dark, then spreading misleading and inaccurate information.
The Army first said Tillman was killed by enemy fire, fighting the Taliban. But later, it admitted he was killed by members of his own Army battalion.
The Chief of the Army Special Operations at the time said he knew Tillman likely was killed by friendly fire, but said nothing.
Tillman's mother said "the military let him down." In the way the military reported, or misreported, this story, they let ALL of us down.
That's a page from my Notebook.
9 Comments +
Popular Now in CBS Evening News
- Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
- Storm spotter: Oklahoma tornado "a nightmare"
- Survivors pulled from Okla. school hit by tornado
- Oklahoma tornado survivor: "Everything is gone"
- Oklahoma governor: We need lots of prayers tonight
- Oklahoma tornado leaves residents in state of shock
- At least 51 dead after tornado strikes Oklahoma City suburb
- 5/20: Deadly tornado strikes Okla.; Fmr. Cincinnati IRS office worker speaks out
- Inside the IRS office that targeted conservative groups
- 5/19: Surviving the Midwest twisters; How a $4.8 million winning ticket saved a family
- Oklahoma City manager: Tornado created "significant damage"
- Severe weather: Where is the storm headed?
- Did Obama admin. know of IRS targeting during campaign?
- 16-year-old finds a new way to detect cancer
- Okla. governor on tornado's destruction
- Lotto winners with tragic story thank "guardian angel"
