Army finds Tillman probably
killed by friendly fire
CNN
Monday, May 31, 2004 Posted: 10:04 AM EDT (1404 GMT)
(CNN) -- U.S. Army Cpl. Pat Tillman, the former professional
football player killed last month in Afghanistan, was probably
killed by gunfire from his own unit during an intense firefight,
the U.S. Army said Saturday.
"While there was no one specific finding of fault, the
investigation indicated that Cpl. Tillman probably died of
friendly fire while his unit was in combat with enemy forces,"
Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger Jr., of the Army's Special Operations
Command ,said at a news conference at Ft. Bragg, North
Carolina.
"The results of this investigation in no way diminish the
bravery and sacrifice of Cpl. Tillman," Kensinger said. "Cpl.
Tillman was shot and killed while responding to enemy fire
without regard to his personal safety."
Tillman, who walked away from a $3.6 million contract with the
Arizona Cardinals two years ago to serve in the military, was
posthumously awarded a Silver Star on April 30.
"There is an inherent danger of confusion in any firefight
particularly when a unit is ambushed, especially under difficult
light and terrain environment," Kensinger said.
Tillman, 27, was shot and killed April 22 during a ground
convoy assault not far from Khowst, Afghanistan, near the eastern
border with Pakistan. Two other coalition soldiers were wounded
in the ambush and an Afghan militia force soldier was killed.
The firefight in which Tillman died began about 7:30 p.m. when
10 to 20 ambushers attacked the convoy with mortars and small
arms. Tillman's team had already passed the point of attack, but
turned back to help, diving into an intensive battle that lasted
about 20 minutes.
A statement announcing the Silver Star said that Tillman
directed his team to return fire against the fighters, who had
attacked from higher ground.
It said that because of Tillman's leadership and his team's
efforts, the trail section of the convoy "was able to maneuver
through the ambush to positions of safety without a single
casualty."
Tillman was a member of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger
Regiment based at Fort Lewis, Washington.
His brother, Kevin, trained with him and served in the same
unit.
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