Cpl. Pat Tillman
A soldier who fought under Cpl. Pat Tillman was told by higher-ups not to report that the former NFL player died from friendly fire in Afghanistan. Spec. Bryan O'Neal was ordered not to tell Tillman's brother Kevin, who was serving in a nearby convoy, by Lt. Col. Jeff Bailey.
This dramatic testimony occurred before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Kevin Tillman accused the Bush regime of twisting the facts of his brother's death to distract public attention from prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib in Iraq.
The Army fabricated a story of his brother's heroism in action, knowing he was killed by friendly fire. A story was constructed to authenticate a Silver Star medal and authorities lied about his medical care, saying Pat Tillman was transferred to a field hospital for continued medical care after the back of his head was blown off.
Kevin Tillman insists: "These are deliberate and calculated lies" and "a deliberate act of deceit.” He considers the official account of his brother's death was "utter fiction intended to deceive the family and, more importantly, the American people.” He said the incident that led to his brother's death was clearly fratricide, and that crucial evidence was destroyed, the autopsy was not done according to regulations and eyewitness testimony disappeared into thin air.
He believes the reason for the manipulation of the truth was to shifted the focus from the grotesque abuses at Abu Ghraib to a great American who died a hero's death.
Democratic chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, called for the hearing into Tillman's death, and pledged to pursue the investigation. Waxman said the administration's five investigations to date are not enough. Members of the the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee zeroed in on who in the military had ordered the friendly fire aspect of Tillman's death withheld from the public and the family for almost a month.
Pat's mother, Mary Tillman said she was appalled by comments from Lt. Col. Ralph Kauzlarich, an officer in Tillman's unit, suggesting that the family was not at peace with the death because they are atheists who believe their son is now "worm dirt."
Waxman suggested Kauzlarich's remarks should be punished as "conduct unbecoming an officer."
This dramatic testimony occurred before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Kevin Tillman accused the Bush regime of twisting the facts of his brother's death to distract public attention from prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib in Iraq.
The Army fabricated a story of his brother's heroism in action, knowing he was killed by friendly fire. A story was constructed to authenticate a Silver Star medal and authorities lied about his medical care, saying Pat Tillman was transferred to a field hospital for continued medical care after the back of his head was blown off.
Kevin Tillman insists: "These are deliberate and calculated lies" and "a deliberate act of deceit.” He considers the official account of his brother's death was "utter fiction intended to deceive the family and, more importantly, the American people.” He said the incident that led to his brother's death was clearly fratricide, and that crucial evidence was destroyed, the autopsy was not done according to regulations and eyewitness testimony disappeared into thin air.
He believes the reason for the manipulation of the truth was to shifted the focus from the grotesque abuses at Abu Ghraib to a great American who died a hero's death.
Democratic chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, called for the hearing into Tillman's death, and pledged to pursue the investigation. Waxman said the administration's five investigations to date are not enough. Members of the the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee zeroed in on who in the military had ordered the friendly fire aspect of Tillman's death withheld from the public and the family for almost a month.
Pat's mother, Mary Tillman said she was appalled by comments from Lt. Col. Ralph Kauzlarich, an officer in Tillman's unit, suggesting that the family was not at peace with the death because they are atheists who believe their son is now "worm dirt."
Waxman suggested Kauzlarich's remarks should be punished as "conduct unbecoming an officer."
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