WASHINGTON, March 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army is investigating nine current and retired Army officers including three generals for obscuring the death of Pat Tllman.
The Arny also announced Monday the late Corp. Tillman, a former National Football League star, is retaining the Silver Star awarded posthumously for his actions on April 22, 2004, in Afghanistan. The citation for the award has been changed to accurately note Tillman's death by friendly fire rather than hostile forces.
A nearly two-year investigation by the Pentagon inspector general into Tillman's death determined exactly how he was killed, as well as those responsible for concealing the circumstances of his death from his family for more than a month.
The report singles out retired Lt. Gen. Phillip Kensinger, then head of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and then-Maj. Gen. Stan McChrystal, now a lieutenant general in special operations, for failing to immediately inform the family of their suspicions that Tillman's death was the result of friendly fire.
The Silver Star award, initiated April 24 and approved April 29, also contained statements known to be false.
Tillman and an Afghan soldier were shot and killed by members of Tillman's own platoon who mistook them for enemy fighters in dim evening light. Tillman, the Afghan and another Army ranger had moved into position on a ridge to help defend an American convoy which had come under enemy attack as it moved through the wadi below. The shooters did not have radio contact because of the mountainous terrain so they did not know the figures on the ridge were friendly.
Tillman's family was informed of his death by hostile fire the same day. One day later, the Army opened a friendly fire investigation but did not tell the family as required.
