Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Army knew cause of Tillman's death early

[bob_TCC]

Start of story:

"Army officials knew within days of Pat Tillman's death that the former NFL player had been killed by fellow Rangers during a patrol in Afghanistan but did not inform his family and the public for weeks, The Washington Post reported."

Click here for the full story on CNN.com.

-Bob

[KHarmon]

Of course they knew well before they made it public. "Friendly Fire" has been a common phenomena for as long as wars have been fought with firearms and bows and arrows. It's unfortunate, but it does happen. It sucks that something like that happened to Tillman, but it's not all together suprising.

One of my biggest problems with the way war is fought today is everyone expects it to be "clean". Precision laser guided bombs dropped with surgical accuracy, night vision scopes on rifles that make shooting at night as easy as shooting a clearly lit target. The sad, unfortunate fact of the matter is, was is not, nor was it ever meant to be clean. People die in war, and yes, sometimes civilians die. We never heard anything about "civilian casualties" until the Viet Nam Conflict, and it has steadily become worse since then. I think the reason for this is because the liberal press "sensationalizes" and heavily covers the stories of civilian deaths and wars are so heavily covered now by the media that it's impossible to keep from hearing about what happens over there. It is my opinion that the press needs to keep their collective a**'es out of the field and behind the lines. Not only do I believe that we don't need to know about everything that goes on over there, but I believe there's a lot of things I don't want to know. I have a nephew that is an Airborne Ranger currently serving in Afghanistan and he serves as a sniper on a .50 calibre sniper crew. I like his take on things. You ask him what's going on over there and he'll tell you that it's classified information until otherwise released. Ask him what his job is and he'll tell you "maintaining long distance, personal relationships with the enemy." Gotta love that sniper attitude.

Anyways, the Tillman incident was, and is, unfortunate. I have a hard time criticizing the government for withholding that information from the public, and I will not criticize the members of his unit for the accident. It's a whole new world when you're getting shot at by an enemy in front of you and you have 10 guys behind you who are shooting back at them. The worst thing to be in any combat unit is the "point man" because he more often than not becomes the "middle man" when the chips are down. Not to mention the fact that it is well documented that when involved in a shooting, the adrenaline dump causes "auditory exclusion" which means the gun fire and everything else is completely drowned out, and tunnel vision. One such documented experiment was done with police officers who were given injections of "epinephrine" which is a form or adrenaline. In those experiments they were exposed to things such as lights and sirens and a "suspect" (target) that was shooting at them. During the experiment a "civilian" would enter the line of fire between the suspect and officer and in all except on case the officer never saw the civilian and continued to fire. All of the experiments were performed with "simunition" which is basically a paintball gun that fires paint pellets out of duty issued handguns. The one officer who failed to shoot the civilian was in the process of clearing a jam from his weapon at the time. The officers were later interviewed and out of the 20 officers who participated in the test, none of them recalled seeing the civilian enter their sight picture because in the adrenaline induced state they were focused squarley on the target.

[bob_TCC]

Great post, KHarmon. Your unique perspective really helps to put things in the proper context.

My first reaction when I read this story was "does it really change anything?". Bottom line is that Tillman died serving his country. End of story.

Plus, it just helped to remind me that Tillman was a true example of a hero - and not because he played in the NFL.

-Bob

[toysoldierman2001]

When I was in Vietnam my unit came under friendly fire on more
then one occassion.I saw a lot of good Marines lose their life as
well as many maimed for life not just physically but mentally due
to this.

[KHarmon]

Great post, KHarmon.  Your unique perspective really helps to put things in the proper context.  

My first reaction when I read this story was "does it really change anything?".  Bottom line is that Tillman died serving his country.  End of story.  

Plus, it just helped to remind me that Tillman was a true example of a hero - and not because he played in the NFL.

-Bob

You're absolutely right, nothing changes, no matter who fired the fatal bullet. He died doing what he was trained to do, and he died after giving something up (an NFL Contract) that I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone else who would give up. Tillman was a true hero and should be remembered as such, not because he was in the NFL and gave up a contract to serve, but simply because he served.

As far as a "unique perspective", I don't know about that I just think that having been raised in a military family and having been shot at twice in 10 years (once intentionally and once in the wrong place at the wrong time) you have a natural twist on things. I've experienced the auditory exclusion and the tunnel vision so I can understand why a lot of the friendly fire happens.

Just a quick reminder for those of you who don't know, National Police Memorial Week falls this month. Any of you who are in the Washing DC area might consider going to the vigil at the Police Memorial. I've never been but everyone I've talked to has said that it is a very moving experience, especially when they read the names of the officers killed in the line of duty the previous year. If my memory serves me correctly they will add 154 names to the wall for the year 2004.

[bob_TCC]

Just a quick reminder for those of you who don't know, National Police Memorial Week falls this month.  Any of you who are in the Washing DC area might consider going to the vigil at the Police Memorial.  I've never been but everyone I've talked to has said that it is a very moving experience, especially when they read the names of the officers killed in the line of duty the previous year.  If my memory serves me correctly they will add 154 names to the wall for the year 2004.

156 fallen law enforcement officers were honored in today's ceremony for Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Click here for the story on CNN.com.

A solemn reminder of the risks that come to those that work to protect all of us. Thanks to KHarmon and the others who continue to serve.

-Bob

[bob_TCC]

Tillman's family is speaking out about this now saying that the Army disrespected Pat's memory.

Click here for the story on CNN.com.

-Bob