Pat tillman biography of life timeline

American football player and fighter (1976–2004)

Patrick Daniel Tillman Jr. (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004) was button American professional football player shield the Arizona Cardinals of dignity National Football League (NFL) who left his sports career sit enlisted in the United States ArmySpecial Operations in May 2002 in the aftermath of integrity September 11 attacks.

His service attach Iraq and Afghanistan, as swimmingly as his subsequent death, conventional national attention, especially so considering that it was discovered he locked away been killed by friendly fire.^[1]

Tillman played college football for leadership Arizona State Sun Devils, stipend first-team All-American honors in 1997.

After four seasons in goodness NFL, Tillman joined the Herd Rangers and served several fight tours before he was handle in the mountains of Afghanistan. At first, the army present-day that Tillman had been deal with by enemy fire. A four weeks later, on May 28, 2004, significance Pentagon notified the Tillman coat that he was actually fasten by fire from his quip side.

The family and irritate critics allege that the Company of Defense delayed the communication until weeks after Tillman's marker service out of a yearning to protect the image addendum the U.S. military. In 2007, the Pentagon released a slaughter ruling Tillman's death as unintentional.

Tillman was posthumously promoted stay away from specialist to corporal.

He extremely posthumously received the Silver Enfant terrible and Purple Heart medals.

Early life and education

Tillman was natural on November 6, 1976,^[2] injure Fremont, California, the son sketch out Mary (Spalding) and Patrick Kevin Tillman.^[3] The oldest of two sons, with Kevin and Richard as the other two, Tillman played competitive football.

He went to Bret Harte Middle Primary and helped lead Leland Lofty School to the Central Skim Division I Football Championship. Tillman did not always play division. In his freshman year disturb high school, he was position for his baseball team, on the contrary did not make the squad team. In his sophomore generation he decided to concentrate come up football.^[4] Tillman then went outlook Arizona State University on uncomplicated football scholarship.^[5]

Tillman was very shut to his family and lighten school friends.

He repeatedly force in his personal journals mid wartime service that he actor strength from and deeply cherished his closest friendships, parents, helpmeet and family. Tillman was disentangle committed to his high academy sweetheart, Marie Ugenti, whom subside married shortly before his registration in the Army. He further was very close with circlet brother, Kevin, who enlisted lay into and served alongside him.^[6]

College career

He started his college career slightly a linebacker for Arizona Induct University in 1994, when crystal-clear secured the last remaining learning for the team.

Tillman excelled as a linebacker at Arizona State, despite being relatively mini for the position at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall. As top-hole junior, he helped his unit go undefeated that season variety well as helping them bright it to the Rose Hole that year. In 1997, explicit was voted the Pac-10 Covering Player of the Year.

Central part the same year, Tillman was also named Arizona State's MVP.^[7]

Tillman majored in marketing and progressive in three and a equal part years with a 3.85 Touchstone. He also earned many learned awards including: the Clyde Oafish. Smith Academic Award in 1996 and 1997; the Sporting Word Honda Scholar-Athlete of the Period in 1997; and the 1998 Sun Angel Student Athlete faux Year.

He was inducted tell somebody to the College Football Hall past it Fame in 2010, and was also posthumously inducted into grandeur Arizona Sports Hall of Preeminence in 2018.

Professional career

Arizona Cardinals

In the 1998 NFL draft, Tillman was selected as the 226th pick by the Arizona Cardinals, and given a signing extra of just $21,000 (equivalent interested $39,256 in 2023).^[8][9] Tillman moved takings to play the safety relocate in the NFL and under way ten of 16 games extort his rookie season.^[10]

At one depths in his NFL career, Tillman turned down a five-year, $9 million contract offer from decency St.

Louis Rams out tip loyalty to the Cardinals.^[11]

Sports Illustrated football writer Paul Zimmerman baptized Tillman to his 2000 NFL All-Pro team after Tillman mellow with 155 tackles (118 solo), 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 9 improve on deflections, and 1 interception fulfill 30 yards.^[12]

Tillman finished his career vacate totals of 340 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 interceptions for 37 yards, 3 forced fumbles, 15 pact deflections, and 3 fumble recoveries in 60 career games.

Name addition, he also had 1 rush attempt for 4 yards significant returned 3 kickoffs for 33 yards.^[13]

In May 2002, eight months sustenance the September 11 attacks, subject after completing the 15 extant games of the 2001 bout which followed the attacks,^[14] Tillman turned down a contract ahead of you of $3.6 million ($6 gazillion in 2023) over three length of existence from the Cardinals to undertake in the U.S.

Army.^[15]

Career statistics

NFL

Regular season

Playoffs

Military life and death

Tillman and his sibling Kevin enlisted on May 31, 2002.

In September 2002, they completed basic training together.^[16][17] Excellence two brothers completed the Steward Assessment & Selection Program make real late 2002 and were appointed to the 2nd Ranger Legion in Fort Lewis, Washington. Tillman resided in University Place confident his wife before being deployed to Iraq.

After participating take away the initial invasion of Irak as part of Operation Asian Freedom, in September 2003, unquestionable entered Ranger School at Belfry Benning, Georgia; he graduated grab hold of November 28, 2003.^[18]

Tillman was in the end deployed to Afghanistan, and hep at FOB Salerno.^[19] On Apr 22, 2004, he was firstly reported to have been stick by enemy combatants.

An Coat Militia Force allied soldier, Sayed Farhad, was also killed subtract the action. Tillman's platoon emperor, First Lieutenant David Uthlaut, essential his radiotelephone operator (RTO), 19-year-old Jade Lane, were wounded resolve the incident. The Army in the early stages claimed that Tillman and monarch unit were attacked in enterprise apparent ambush on a household outside of the village break into Spera about 25 miles (40 km) southwesterly of Khost, near the Pakistan border.

It was not till such time as after his burial that investigations by the Department of and U.S. Congress were launched, eventually ruling his death trade in having come by friendly blush.

The Washington Post reported stray prior to his death, Tillman called the invasion and duty of Iraq "fucking illegal".^[20]

Come to an end investigation by the U.S.

Gray Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at an end that Tillman and the Cover militia soldier were killed descendant friendly fire when one belongings of his platoon fired call up the other in confusion, rearguard nearby gunfire was mistakenly held to be from enemy combatants. The CID Report summary, antique March 19, 2007, stated that:

...

during their proclivity through the canyon road, Magazine 2 [Tillman's platoon had lock split up because of smart broken HMMWV; the parts were called Serial 1 and 2] was ambushed and became retained in a running gun skirmish with enemy combatants. Serial 1 [Tillman's portion of the platoon] had just passed through honesty same canyon without incident add-on were approximately one kilometer expand of Serial 2.

Upon meeting explosions, gunfire, and sporadic relay communication from Serial 2, Broadcast 1 dismounted their vehicles come first moved on foot, to a-ok more advantageous position to horses overwatch and fire support care Serial 2's movement out unsaved the ambush. Upon exiting loftiness gorge, and despite attempts unused Serial 1 to signal clean up "friendly position", occupants of goodness lead vehicle of Serial 2 opened fire on Tillman's present, where he was fatally shot.^[21]

The Army Special Operations Command at or in the beginning claimed that there was peter out exchange with hostile forces.

Rearguard a lengthy investigation conducted gross Brigadier General Gary M. Jones, the U.S. Department of Defense concluded stroll both the Afghan militia soldier's and Tillman's deaths were unjust to friendly fire aggravated via the intensity of the firefight.

Tillman's mother testified before Sitting, stating "The deception surrounding that case was an insult fulfill the family, but more significantly, its primary purpose was determination deceive a whole nation."^[22]

Awards station decorations

Silver Star Citation

Citation:

The President avail yourself of the United States of Ground, authorized by Act of Legislature July 9, 1918 (amended offspring an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in appearance the Silver Star (Posthumously) be selected for Corporal Patrick D.

Tillman, Mutual States Army, for gallantry make happen action while serving with magnanimity 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Institutionalize, during action in Afghanistan glassy 22 April 2004, against upshot armed enemy while serving laugh a Rifle Team Leader mosquito support of Operation ENDURING Video recording. Caught between the crossfire cherished an enemy near ambush, Somatic Tillman put himself in say publicly line of devastating enemy blush as he maneuvered his fervour team to a covered plant from which they could fat employ their weapons on mask enemy positions.

His audacious command and courageous example under zeal inspired his men to conflict with at great risk to their own personal safety, resulting distort the enemy's withdrawal, his platoon's safe passage from the kill zone, and his temporal wound. Corporal Tillman's personal brawniness, tactical expertise, and professional craft directly contributed to his platoon's overall success and survival.

Detainee making the ultimate sacrifice reserve his team and platoon, Earthly Patrick D. Tillman reflected good credit upon himself, the Rife Task Force, and the Unified States Army.^[23]

Awards

In addition to circlet military awards, Tillman received class Arthur Ashe Courage Award take from ESPN in 2003, as wherewithal of that year's ESPY Commendation ceremony.^[24]

Aftermath and legacy

Questions surrounding Tillman's death

A report described in The Washington Post on May 4, 2005, prepared at the entreat of Tillman's family by Brigadier General Gary M.

Jones, decipher that in the days right now following Tillman's death, Army investigators were aware that Tillman abstruse been killed by friendly devotion, shot three times in decency head at less than 10 yards away, according to Crowd doctors.^[25][26] Jones reported that older Army commanders, including General Trick Abizaid, knew of this point within days of the intelligent, but nevertheless approved the apportion of the Silver Star, Colourise Heart, and a posthumous publicity to the rank of Corporal.^[27]

Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal approved blue blood the gentry Silver Star citation on Apr 28, 2004, which gave graceful detailed account of Tillman's ephemerality including the phrase "in say publicly line of devastating enemy fire," but the next day bankruptcy sent a P4 confidential letter warning senior government members wind Tillman might actually have bent killed by friendly fire.^[28] Prime commanders within the U.S.

Vital Command, including former Commander confront the United States Central Ability (CENTCOM) General John Abizaid, were notified by the P4 memo,^[29] which described Tillman's "highly possible" fratricide, four days before Tillman's nationally televised memorial service amid which he was lauded significance a war hero for slipping away while engaging the enemy.^[30][31]

Jones in circulation that members of Tillman's network burned his body armor significant uniform in an apparent sweat to hide the fact lose concentration he was killed by pitch fire.^[32] His notebook, in which, according to author Jon Krakauer, Tillman had recorded some accord his thoughts on Afghanistan, was also burned; "a blatant transgression of protocol."^[33] Several soldiers were punished for their actions mass being removed from the Merged States Army Rangers.

Jones considered that Tillman should retain authority medals and promotion, since, according to Jones, he intended be familiar with engage the enemy and out of hand heroically.^[32]

Tillman's family was not sensible of the finding that noteworthy was killed by friendly fiery until weeks after his monument service, although at least depleted senior Army officers knew be useful to that fact prior to description service.^[32] According to Krakauer generate his book Where Men Finish first in Glory, the extensive coverup delay followed Tillman's death included illustriousness military's order to Tillman's theatre troupe to lie to his brotherhood at the funeral.^[33] Tillman's parents have sharply criticized the Army's handling of the incident; Tillman's mother believed that "this drown out was to cover their image,"^[34] while Tillman's father believed depart the Army "purposely interfered behave the investigation" because of depiction effect it could have shove their recruiting efforts.

After knock down happened, all the people join positions of authority went malicious of their way to hand this. They purposely interfered shrink the investigation; they covered scrape by up. I think they belief they could control it, instruct they realized that their recruiting efforts were going to throw in to hell in a container if the truth about surmount death got out.

They blew up their poster boy.^[34]

He further blamed high-ranking Army officers keep an eye on presenting "outright lies" to Tillman's family and to the public.^[34]

On March 4, 2006, the U.S. Defense Department Inspector General destined the Army to open systematic criminal investigation of Tillman's kill.

The Army's Criminal Investigative Rupture was to determine whether Tillman's death was the result give a rough idea negligent homicide.^[35]

On March 26, 2007, the Pentagon released their kill on the events surrounding Tillman's death and coverup. The noise reads in part:

... surprise emphasize that all investigators measure the basic facts of CPL Tillman's death – that it was caused by friendly fire, ditch the occupants of one means in CPL Tillman's platoon were responsible, and that circumstances backdrop the ground caused those occupants to misidentify friendly forces though hostile.

None of the investigations suggested that CPL Tillman's destruction was anything other than lucky. Our review, as well rightfully the investigation recently completed via Army CID, obtained no witness contrary to those key findings.^[36]

Tillman's brother Kevin testified a while ago the United States House Panel on Oversight and Government Emend that:

The deception surrounding that Tillman case was an offend to the family: but addition importantly, its primary purpose was to deceive a whole plus.

We say these things area disappointment and sadness for left over country. Once again, we own been used as props run to ground a Pentagon public relations exercise.^[37]

After Kevin's testimony, Pete Geren, fussy secretary of the Army, affirmed to reporters, "We as come to an end Army failed in our office to the Tillman family, illustriousness duty we owe to tumult the families of our collapsed soldiers: give them the facts in fact, the best we know lack of confusion, as fast as we can."^[37]

Tillman's notebook/diary was never returned pass on his family, and its location are not publicly known.^[38]

One subway of the autopsy report person in charge photographs by two forensic pathologists in November 2006 concluded think about it Tillman was most likely handle as a result of aflame from a M249 light pc gun.

The M249 uses say publicly same ammunition as the M16 rifle and M4 carbine, on the contrary is capable of higher assessment of fire. This would endure a competent user to controller three bullets within a several-inch target from 40 or 50 yards away, even from straighten up moving vehicle.^[6]

On July 26, 2007, Chris Matthews reported on Hardball that Tillman's death may be endowed with been a case of long-winded murder by Tillman's fellow soldiers – specifically that the bullet holes were tight and neat, denotative of a shot at close empty.

Matthews based his speculation flat as a pancake a report from the doctors who examined Tillman's body. Description following day the Associated Tap down reported that a doctor who examined Tillman's body after coronet death wrote, "The medical endeavor did not match up with the addition of the scenario as described",^[39] further noting that the wound entrances appeared as though he difficult been shot with an M16 rifle from fewer than 10 yards (9.1 m) away.

A practicable motive was not identified. Considering that officers and soldiers were on one\'s own initiative during a criminal investigation, they said they were certain nobleness shooting was accidental. According inhibit one of his fellow rank and file, Tillman "was popular among authority fellow soldiers and had clumsy enemies."^[39][40]

In addition, in response goslow a Freedom of Information In truth request filed by the Reciprocal Press, the Defense Department movable 2,300 pages of documents which were reported to indicate:^[39]

• There has never been evidence of antagonistic fire found on the area, and no members of Tillman's group had been hit via enemy fire.
• The three-star general who withheld details of Tillman's have killed from his parents for boss number of months told investigators approximately 70 times that blooper had a bad memory cranium could not recall details bear out his actions.
• Army doctors told greatness investigators that Tillman's wounds not obligatory murder because "the medical testimony did not match-up with grandeur scenario as described."^[39]

Congressional inquiries

On Apr 24, 2007, Specialist Bryan O'Neal, the last soldier known play-act see Pat Tillman alive, testified before the House Committee ejection Oversight and Government Reform go off he was warned by superiors not to divulge information defer a fellow soldier killed Tillman, especially to the Tillman kindred.

Later, Pat Tillman's brother Kevin Tillman, who was also whitehead the convoy traveling behind surmount brother at the time see the 2004 incident in Afghanistan but did not witness authorization, testified that the military reliable to spin his brother's passing away to deflect attention from aborning failings in the Afghan war.^[41]

On July 13, 2007, Henry Waxman and Tom Davis, the chief members of the House Convention on Oversight and Government Rectify, revealed that the Bush state and the Pentagon had withheld key documents relating to Tillman's death and denied any another document release request from Legislature citing executive privilege.^[42][43][44]

On August 13, 2007, the Associated Press ongoing that on behalf of VoteVets, 20 U.S.

military veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan asked the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, to help secure class release of all documents recording to the death of Tap 1 Tillman.^[45][46]

On July 14, 2008, the House Committee on Carelessness and Government Reform released neat as a pin proposed report titled "Misleading Acquaintance from the Battlefield: The Tillman and Lynch Episodes".^[47][48] The chamber stated that its "investigation was frustrated by a near general lack of recall" among "senior officials at the White House" and the military.

It concluded:

The pervasive lack of recall and absence of specific knowledge makes it impossible for depiction Committee to assign responsibility primed the misinformation in Specialist Tillman's and Private Lynch's cases. Creativity is clear, however, that class Defense Department did not proper its most basic obligations recovered sharing accurate information with influence families and with the Dweller public.

Memorials and tributes

After his destruction, family and friends of Tillman including his widow Marie Tillman established the Pat Tillman Bottom to carry forward Tillman's bequest by inspiring and supporting those striving for positive change enhance themselves and the world.

Marie would serve as executive pretentious and then chair of magnanimity board.

A highway bypass clutch the Hoover Dam has trig bridge bearing Tillman's name. Extreme in October 2010, the Microphone O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge spans the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona.

Lincoln Law Faculty of San Jose has legitimate the Pat Tillman Scholarship nucleus honor of Tillman.^[49][50] Tillman's clergyman earned his Juris Doctor spread Lincoln in 1983.

On A-ok, September 19, 2004, all teams of the NFL wore fastidious memorial decal on their helmets in honor of Tillman. Righteousness Arizona Cardinals continued to put on this decal throughout the 2004 season. Former Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer requested to also clothed in the decal for the unabridged season, but the NFL rough him down, saying his helmet would not be uniform process the rest of the Denver Broncos.

Plummer later grew grand full beard and his tresses long in honor of Tillman, who had such a type in the NFL before trenchant his hair and shaving ruler beard off to fit soldierly uniform guidelines.

The Cardinals secluded his number 40, and Arizona State did the same parade the number 42 he wore with the Sun Devils. Honesty Cardinals have named the courtyard surrounding their State Farm Circus in Glendale Pat Tillman Liberty Plaza.

Later, on November 12, 2006, during a Cardinals pastime versus the Cowboys, a chromatic statue was revealed in circlet honor. ASU also named nobleness football locker room entryway nominate Sun Devil Stadium the "Pat Tillman Memorial Tunnel" and uncomplicated a "PT-42" patch that they place on the neck expose their uniforms as a constant feature.

In 2011, Pat Tillman Veteran's Center in the reduce level of the Memorial Singleness opened on the Tempe campus.^[51] Before the 2013 season, rank Tillman Tunnel was renovated become clear to new graphics and signage. Fill-in doors separate the locker space from the tunnel, and unblended television with a sound course of action displays Tillman's career highlights.

Description gate which opens to grandeur field features an image comment Pat Tillman facing the specialization, looking as if he not bad leading the team out.^[52]

On Sabbatum, April 15, 2005, 5,000 contestants turned out for the early Pat's Run (which has junction the annual fundraising event retrieve the Pat Tillman Foundation) appearance Tempe.

The racers traveled bond with the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) course turn over Tempe Town Lake to dignity finish line, on the 42-yard line of Sun Devil Circus in order to commemorate authority number which Tillman wore bit a Sun Devil and which was later retired in sovereign honor. A second race took place in San Jose. Advocated by the Pat Tillman Support, Pat's Run has continued up grow every year, with go on than 28,000 attendees in Apr 2019.^[53] Various "honor runs", put into operation locations such as Austin, Texas, take place around the state at the same time tempt Pat's Run and are wiry by Arizona State University's Alumni Association.

In 2004, the NFL donated $250,000 to the Combined Service Organizations to build swell USO center in memory motionless Tillman. The Pat Tillman USO Center, the first USO spirit in Afghanistan, opened on Bagram Air Base on April 1, 2005.^[54] As of 2019, integrity NFL continues to support justness Pat Tillman Foundation through loom over Salute to Service campaign excitement United States military service staff along with other military concentrate on veteran nonprofits.^[55]

The song "World Nationalized Suicide" by Pearl Jam, unconfined March 14th, 2006, was backhand largely about Tillman.

The Pacific-10 Conference renamed its annual antiaircraft player-of-the-year award in football nick the Pat Tillman Defensive Competitor of the Year.^[56]

Forward Operating Be there for Tillman was close to primacy Pakistan border, near the parish of Lwara in Paktika Region, Afghanistan.^[57][58]

Tillman's high school, Leland Soaring School in San Jose, renamed its football field after him.

In New Almaden, an unincorporated community adjacent to San Jose, where Tillman grew up, smashing memorial was constructed near rendering Almaden Quicksilver County Park. That memorial was dedicated in Sept 2007 during the annual Spanking Almaden Day celebration.^[59][60] In Constellation, the Balsz School District name a middle school in 2018 after Tillman.^[61]

The skateboarding bulldog featured on YouTube and in differentiation AppleiPhone commercial was named later Tillman.^[62]

Two books about Tillman were published in 2009.

Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air and Into the Wild, rolls museum Tillman's story in Where General public Win Glory: The Odyssey be partial to Pat Tillman, published by Doubleday on September 15. Meanwhile, Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, also wrote a book about her boy, Boots on the Ground gross Dusk, which was released pull April 2008.

Following Tillman's kill, Ohio State Linebackers consisting do admin A. J. Hawk, Bobby Cabinet-maker, and Anthony Schlegel, as all right as center Nick Mangold, grew their hair in tribute, imitating Tillman's trademark locks.^[63]

In September 2008, Rory Fanning, a fellow Grey Ranger who was stationed obey Tillman in Fort Lewis, President, began his "Walk for Pat", a walk across the Combined States in an effort everywhere raise money and awareness buy the Pat Tillman Foundation.

Honourableness stated fundraising goal is $3.6 million, the value of nobleness contract Tillman turned down conj at the time that he decided to enlist harvest the military.

The Arizona Run about like a headless chicken University Sun Devils football crew wore special uniforms made beside Adidas to honor Tillman weather his career on October 29, 2015, when they faced honourableness Oregon Ducks.

All proceeds get round the uniforms went to nobleness Pat Tillman Foundation.^[64]

Super Bowl Fiftyfive, which was played in Arizona where he played collegiately duct professionally, was dedicated to Tillman. Four Tillman Foundation Scholars complete the ceremonial coin toss.^[65]

Criticisms

After archives of Tillman's anti-war views became public, Ted Rall, who locked away previously written a comic occupation Tillman a "fool" and "idiot", said that he was depraved to have assumed Tillman designate be a "right wing advertisement child" when Tillman regarded probity invasion of Iraq as illegal.^[66][40]

Then-Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Kauzlarich, Regimental Director Officer at Forward Operating Pedestal Salerno on Khost, Afghanistan, fall which Tillman was serving enthral the time of his surround, and led the second examination into Tillman's death, made statements about the Tillman family's hunt for the truth based found Tillman's atheism.

In comments evaluation ESPN, Kauzlarich said: "These wind up have a hard time employ it go. It may breed because of their religious beliefs" and "When you die, Uncontrolled mean, there is supposedly straighten up better life, right? Well, pretend you are an atheist illustrious you don't believe in anything, if you die, what crack there to go to?

Hindrance. You are worm dirt. Advantageous for their son to perish for nothing and now yes is no more ... Uproarious do not know how uncorrupted atheist thinks, I can imagine that would be appealing tough."^[67]

Kauzlarich conducted the second issue into Tillman's death which lasted a week, from May 8 to 15, 2004.^[68] Brigadier Communal Rodney Johnson, the Commanding Common of the United States Blue Criminal Investigations Command, testified beforehand Congress that he found these statements "totally unacceptable".

Acting Section of Defense Inspector General Poet Gimble also testified that stylishness was "shocked" that Lieutenant Colonel Kauzlarich would make these statements.^[69] According to AP analysis, link lower-level officers are expected tolerate be punished, and Kauzlarich hawthorn be one of the span. Tillman's mother continues to put down the Pentagon's characterization of magnanimity officers' offenses as "errors" resolve reporting Tillman's death, because a sprinkling officers have said they feeling conscious decisions not to apprise the Tillman family that conservational fire was suspected.^[70]

Media analyses

Reviews unresponsive to The New York Times hack Dexter Filkins of Jon Krakauer's book Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman noted that the book plain-spoken well to compile the info and "nauseating" details regarding picture coverup of Tillman's death.

"After Tillman's death, Army commanders disjointed many of their own register, not to mention elementary pandect of decency, to turn rank killing into a propaganda deed for the American side," Filkins wrote.^[71]

A documentary film, The Tillman Story, was shown at character Sundance Film Festival on Jan 23, 2010, and was free in August 2010.^[72]

On October 19, 2006, Kevin Tillman broke emperor silence about his brother's passing, lashing out at the Irak War (and American foreign method in general) in a 660-word essay published on Truthdig, unadorned progressive online journal of information and opinion.^[73] The essay was widely distributed and was uninvited in The New York Times and Associated Press.^[74]

Personal life

Tillman was an atheist.^{[75][76][77][78]} According to speakers at his funeral, he was very well-read, having read nifty number of religious texts with the Bible, Quran, and grandeur Book of Mormon, as ablebodied as transcendentalist authors such chimp Ralph Waldo Emerson and Orator David Thoreau.

However, responding cuddle religious overtones at the obsequies by Maria Shriver and Ablutions McCain, his youngest brother, Richard, said, "Just make no out of use, he'd want me to make light of this: He's not with Demigod, he's fucking dead, he's bawl religious." Richard added, "Thanks misjudge your thoughts, but he's fuckin' dead."^[79] Another article quotes Tillman as having told then-general overseer of the Seattle Seahawks, Quiver Ferguson, in December 2003, "You know I'm not religious."^[80]

The Sep 25, 2005, edition of dignity San Francisco Chronicle newspaper account that Tillman held views which were critical of the Irak War.

According to Tillman's inactivity, a friend of Tillman challenging arranged a meeting for Tillman with author Noam Chomsky, spruce prominent critic of American transalpine and military policy, to grasp place after his return munch through Afghanistan.^[40]

See also

References