Comments on: Tillman Probe Reveals Startling Details

One Shooter In Friendly-Fire Death Of Pat Tillman Had 'Hazy' Vision From Laser Eye Surgery

[saransk]

The tradgedy of Tillman's death is that he has become a political "football" and his true patriotism has been overshadowed.
"Friendly Fire" happens in war. In 1944 the Air Force bombed our lines not once, but twice in France - killing a general.
I don't think there was anything but a horrible set of circumstances, a group of tired soldiers, and a loss of situational awareness that led to his being shot.
Were procedures not followed - yes. Was there an attempt to minimize how much information got out - yes. Will anything be served by pursuing this into the ground - no. The young men who were responsible for this action will always carry it. Pat Tillman died for a cause - he was a patriot.
My heart goes out to his father and family, but it may be that there is no one person who knows exactly what happened - unfortunately war takes the lives of wonderful young men.

[gunnerv1]

Everything is Bush's fault, I don't care if the Sun fails to rise in the East, it's Bush's fault. The High tide is Bush's fault, the low tide is Bush's fault. I have to pass gas, it's Bush's fault. I wish you pukes would grow up in a real friggin fast hurry and get over it. You have power now, we'll have power back in about ten years. (if we haven't gone to total Communisim)"Good luck, and good night"

[ey200]

I was in the Gulf War in 90/91. I've seen some very disturbing things, some of which still keep me up at night. Until you have been there, and know just how fast things get completely out of control, you would not understand the reality of what happened that day. I am wondering if most of you think Tillman was the only soldier killed by friendly fire during this conflict. He was a brave man, and died, accidently by our hands, but he is not the only soldier, or Marine, who has died by friendly fire. It is a bit sad to think no one is asking about the others that have died the same way.

[luvuall]

After the US saved the world twice WW1 and 2 all us americans should have had a father like George W`S where dad would say you take drugs and get drunk and let someone else take care of it. Watch our borders noway when they came on S11 George W. was seeing how to get into Iraq to make a fortune in defence spending kick backs then he washes his hands after the sacrifice of others. My father said the good die young unfortunely he was right Tillman proved that

[llfarrow]

I'm not sure that publicizing these things does anyone any good. Or maybe it's just the way it's done. I believe the family has a right to know, and I certainly believe those involved should be dealt with appropriately. However, all the majority of America needs to know is that he died serving his country. Period. A lot of the interest is just voyeurism, which just cheapens his death.
Oh, by the way: I'm not buying that "I had hazy vision from eye surgery." I was in the military for 14 years and I would submit to you that Laser Eye Surgery is NOT done in theater, and the soldier would not have been returned to duty until he had properly healed from the surgery, which means his vision would have cleared. So if the Army is going to publicize the grizzly details, at least give us something believable.

[ibkirstie66]

Unless we see an interview with two corroborating eyewitnesses of Pat Tillmans death, I doubt the truth will ever be known. I feel tremendous sympathy and compassion for the Tillman family. My Brother had served three tours to Iraq during this war. He is career Navy. I thank God, every time he returns stateside safely.

I know first hand what military cover up looks like and feels like. My first husband, Kevin Andrew Johnson, also served in the Navy, was killed in an "Military Mishap", 17 Nov. 1991, deemed pilot error. Everything from finding the missing HM-53 Helo, to the JAG report issued some 18 months later, was a series of SNAFU's. If he had been a civilian and this "mishap" had happened, heads would have rolled until every question was answered truthfully.

I still have great respect for our military. What I don't understand is, why all the cover up and red tape. Can't someone, anyone, come forward for Kevin and for Pat and say, "I screwed up". "It was ultimately my fault". "I'm sorry". That's all I've ever wanted and I think it might be all the Tillmans need to hear.

[drmikesecman]

I am a US Marine Veteran who was in the Middle East back in the early 80's. I am not going to bash the military or our leaders or the United States, War is War. It is not what you see on TV. War is pure hell and carnage. Brave men and women die, civilians die. As long as humans are, well, humans, with ideology, religion, politics and just plain greed, wars will always be. I was a "Shooter"/"Hunter", I volunteered, I did my job. Some people say I was nothing more than a paid, trained murderer, So be it. I am proud of my service, and I am proud of everyone who went before, and those who have come after. Just no more cover ups, no lies, just the truth. A lot of heart ache, a lot of problems and BS would not happen if the Truth was given right out in the open. Friendly Fire happens and it will happen again. Pat Tillman was a great and unselfish man. He served with an elite unit of Rangers I am proud to call my brothers in arms. He was killed performing his duty. It does not lessen his valor or purpose by th fact he was killed by friendly fire. But, it spits on his grave and every fighting man or women who wore the uniform and are slumbering under a sea of white stone, by lies. Semper Fi, and Happy Birthday to the U.S.M.C. and Happy Veterans Day Brothers and Sisters. We have earned it!

[alphaa10-2009]

Bush has said repeatedly he accepts responsibility for matters like this, so why has the Tillman case developed into such a fiasco of finger-pointing and "every-man-for-himself"? Didn't Rumsfeld want the truth? Apparently not-- despite direct appeals from the Tillman family, the truth about Tillman's death was inconvenient for even a man who stated he admired Tillman's courage.

Details of the truth took literal years to leak out, and the Army had to be jump-started repeatedly to proceed in its "deliberations". This gives all the appearances of a military command dragged kicking and screaming toward some unpleasant realizations.

Comparing administrative handling of the Tillman case to a game of career-risk "hot potato!" is most apt-- leaving the Tillmans and the American people not only saddened by the loss of Tillman, but convinced the military is anything but mission-focused.

Lack of mission-focus not only obstructed the Tillman investigation(s), but is also an apt metaphor for the whole Bush Iraq misadventure. Begun at the insistence of Bush, Iraq also involved splitting our forces and shooting blindly in all directions. This is an exceptionally low point-- among many others-- for leadership from the Bush administration.

[flucero219]

It's important to find out what really happen to satisfy the family's suspicions, even if they are unfounded. Do they think that someone had it out for him? Did they think the military wanted to use Pat as a martyr? What then? His mom and dad are simply upset that their son, whom they had such aspirations for, wouldn't have decided to 'throw his life away'. I'm so sure of this. What mom or dad wouldn't prefer to have their son alive and well, but what they are doing is trying to find blame where none will be found. The soldiers that shot him were in the heat of battle. They had to make quick decisions. They weren't trigger happy. Even if they did have a vendetta against Pat, they wouldn't kill him for the whole world to see. Instead of recovering from the traumatic experience of combat, they have to answer questions to defend their own lives against imprisonment. In the eyes of the Pat's parents, and people like Cindy She-han, they're already guilty... and only because there MUST be someone to blame.

[vberry123]

I would like to commend the thoughtful comments of J_Flood. I volunteered to go to Iraq with the 234th Signal BN for what I thought was a good cause. The locals I interacted with were so generous and warm when we first got there, sharing tea, smiles and asking me why on earth I wasn't married with kids. Their demeanor and their looks changed over the months. Ironically, the only "true" news we got was form the "Stars and STrips" paper because CNN was full of ommisions and lies. My gunner's 20year old brother Cpl Drew Uhles died on the Syrian Border, weeks from coming home from his SECOND Marine tour. What a waste of money and many many lives - SSGt BErry

[j_flood]

There is a name on the Viet Nam wall - Frank Dunford. He was a classmate of mine who left school early to "do what was right" he said. After nearly two years in Viet Nam he was a Staff Sergeant and he was killed by friendly fire. No one investigated his death or treated it other than a death. With over 50 thousand names on the wall he dissolved into marble murkiness. The sergeant who accompanied him home told us that his patrol was re-entering their fire base and some new kid opened fire, and the rest joined in out of fear. When will they ever learn. When will WE ever learn. I know I won't forget Frank Dunford, and I won't forget Pat Tillman.

[random_radar]

amen, Tinker3478!

[tinker3478]

The tragedy is that of the 3,000+ Americans and countless thousands of Afghanis and Iraqis who have died in this mess, the Tillman incident is only one of many. National Guard troops were never meant to be used in the way they have been; at best, they are weekend warriors, fine and brave men and women though they are. Many of the regular troops, again fine and brave, enlisted with the idea they would never see combat. My nephew spent his entire tour beyond basic training at Fort Hood, Texas a few years before 9/11. Facing real bullets in a life or death situation is entirely different from sitting at home speculating about where they went wrong. It's easy to say Sgt. So-and-so didn't follow his training, yada, yada when we weren't there. I don't know where their minds were that day, what they perceived, how pumped they were. I'm sorry for all of them chiefly because they never should have been there to start with.

These people who say they're glad we're in Iraq because they don't want the terrorists at home are foolish, selfish, and deceived. In the first place, anyone who accepts someone else's son or daughter dying in their place is pond scum. The terrorists have had open access to our borders since the Bush family brought us NAFTA. Last, the people masterminding all this mess live, move, and have their being in the CIA as much as anywhere else. I'm more afraid of them than I am a terrorist. Our personal liberties have never been more eroded.

[luvny-2009]

Cover up cover up cover up...this is a pefect example of all that has gone on for the last 6 years. This man gave up everything for what he thought was best and this is how we treat his family. To the Tillman Family, I am so sorry not only for your loss but for the lies and how Pat's memory was treated.