Pat Tillman Timeline
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This is a timeline of the events before and after Pat Tillman's death. This is a work in progress.
September 2002: Pat Tillman gives up an NFL contract worth millions to join the Army, in response to the attacks on September 11, 2001. Tillman goes through Ranger training, and is sent to Iraq. War supporters use Tillman as a poster boy for the war and for patriotism.
March 2003: While in Iraq, Tillman expresses opinions critical of George W. Bush and the Iraq war. One of Tillman's fellow soldiers quotes him as calling the Iraq war "So fucking illegal". Another quotes Tillman as urging him to vote against George W. Bush in the 2004 election.
Spring 2004: Tillman is sent to Afghanistan.
April 22th, 2004: Tillman, despite shouting his name and status as a "friendly", is shot 3 times in the head from a distance of approximately 30 yards, by another soldier in his unit. He was the only U.S. Army fatality in the incident. A later report concludes that is was strictly a "friendly fire" incident and there were no enemy forces involved in the incident. Although it is known almost immediately that Tillman was killed by someone in his own unit, soldiers in the unit are ordered by the Army not to discuss what they knew with anyone. The doctor who examines Tillman's body, suspicious of the tight shot group of the bullets in Tillman's head, as well as conflicting reports from the subsequent coverup, unsuccessfully asks authorities to investigate if Tillman's death were a crime. The Army orders a soldier to burn Tillman's uniform and body armor.
April 22-23, 2004: The Army orders all phone and internet service in the area to be shut off, to prevent people from discussing the incident.
April 25th, 2004: Another soldier is ordered to destroy Pat Tillman's equipment, including a bulletripped vest.
April 29th, 2004: Top commanders in Iraq, including General Abizaid, are informed that Tillman was killed by a member of his own unit. They decide not to tell anyone and keep it quiet. Tillman is used as a martyr by the war supporters. The Army and the Bush Administration continue to keep the truth hidden.
May 29th, 2004: The Army admits that Tillman was killed by his own unit, although still claiming it was in the midst of or right after a battle with enemy fighters.
May 3rd, 2004: Navy Seal Steve White, a friend of Tillman, says in a televised eulogy that Tillman died "taking the fight to the enemy". White later said that he was told to say those words by an Army official only an hour before the speech, and he regretted saying them.
December 2006: Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger Jr. tells investigators looking into the matter that he doesn't recall specific details.
March 2007: Mary Tillman, Pat's mother, raises the possibility that her son might have been killed intentionally.
July 13th 2007: It is revealed that the Bush Administration has invoked "executive privilege" to avoid releasing documents indicating what it knew about Tillman's death. It is currently unknown what they are trying to hide.
September 2002: Pat Tillman gives up an NFL contract worth millions to join the Army, in response to the attacks on September 11, 2001. Tillman goes through Ranger training, and is sent to Iraq. War supporters use Tillman as a poster boy for the war and for patriotism.
March 2003: While in Iraq, Tillman expresses opinions critical of George W. Bush and the Iraq war. One of Tillman's fellow soldiers quotes him as calling the Iraq war "So fucking illegal". Another quotes Tillman as urging him to vote against George W. Bush in the 2004 election.
Spring 2004: Tillman is sent to Afghanistan.
April 22th, 2004: Tillman, despite shouting his name and status as a "friendly", is shot 3 times in the head from a distance of approximately 30 yards, by another soldier in his unit. He was the only U.S. Army fatality in the incident. A later report concludes that is was strictly a "friendly fire" incident and there were no enemy forces involved in the incident. Although it is known almost immediately that Tillman was killed by someone in his own unit, soldiers in the unit are ordered by the Army not to discuss what they knew with anyone. The doctor who examines Tillman's body, suspicious of the tight shot group of the bullets in Tillman's head, as well as conflicting reports from the subsequent coverup, unsuccessfully asks authorities to investigate if Tillman's death were a crime. The Army orders a soldier to burn Tillman's uniform and body armor.
April 22-23, 2004: The Army orders all phone and internet service in the area to be shut off, to prevent people from discussing the incident.
April 25th, 2004: Another soldier is ordered to destroy Pat Tillman's equipment, including a bulletripped vest.
April 29th, 2004: Top commanders in Iraq, including General Abizaid, are informed that Tillman was killed by a member of his own unit. They decide not to tell anyone and keep it quiet. Tillman is used as a martyr by the war supporters. The Army and the Bush Administration continue to keep the truth hidden.
May 29th, 2004: The Army admits that Tillman was killed by his own unit, although still claiming it was in the midst of or right after a battle with enemy fighters.
May 3rd, 2004: Navy Seal Steve White, a friend of Tillman, says in a televised eulogy that Tillman died "taking the fight to the enemy". White later said that he was told to say those words by an Army official only an hour before the speech, and he regretted saying them.
December 2006: Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger Jr. tells investigators looking into the matter that he doesn't recall specific details.
March 2007: Mary Tillman, Pat's mother, raises the possibility that her son might have been killed intentionally.
July 13th 2007: It is revealed that the Bush Administration has invoked "executive privilege" to avoid releasing documents indicating what it knew about Tillman's death. It is currently unknown what they are trying to hide.
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