What happened to Pat Tillman?

Question

I’m from London saw a really bizarre news story on the US news networks when I visited NY around 18 months ago.

I think the story was this, but please correct my errors:

After 9/11, a talented American Football star called Pat Tillman turned down a big contract to serve in the US military.

He was deployed in Iraq & then Afghanistan, where he sadly died. Initial reports claimed Pat ‘died defending our freedom’ during an ambush with enemy militia. I think he was given a military funeral & became a poster boy for military recruitment.

After a short period, it was reported that Pat didn’t die from enemy fire, but from friendly fire during the militia contact.

Then it was stated that the ambush didn’t even happen. There was no enemy battle.

Pat’s received multiple head shots from friendly fire, his clothes were removed, burned & a cover-up story followed.

I can’t find out what happened as the web is full of different theories, conspiracies, rumour & opinion. So why was he shot?

I'm trying to find out what happened next. Did any more info come out? Was there an official inquiry?

Answer 1

Yes he was killed in a friendly-fire incident. For the sake of his family and the soldiers involved they fudged the story. But the press got hold of it and tried to use it to embarrass George Bush.
Now because of the press the soldiers are going to be crucified for an accident that is common in war.

It does not change that fact that Pat Tillman a multi-million dollar football player that gave it all up to serve his country died honorably in battle.

Answer 2

There has been official reports of the incident that were slow to be revealed to the public. Below is a listing from Wikipedia of the details surrounding the death of Pat Tillman:

Tillman was subsequently redeployed to Afghanistan, where, on April 22, 2004, he was killed in action by friendly fire while on patrol. His unit, according to the Army, was attacked in an apparent ambush on a road outside of the village of Sperah about twenty-five miles (forty km) southwest of Khost, near the Pakistan border. An Afghan militia soldier was killed, and two other Rangers were injured as well. The U.S. Department of Defense concluded that Pat Tillman's death was due to friendly fire aggravated by the intensity of the firefight. It was later learned that, in fact, no hostile forces were involved in the firefight and that two allied groups fired on each other in confusion over an exploded mine or remote controlled bomb. U.S. Army Special Operations Command, however, initially claimed that there was an exchange with hostile forces. A later investigation conducted by Brigadier General Jones found that the Army was slow to correct the story of a hostile exchange of fire after learning that it was false.

Answer 3

Friendly fire is sadly a problem with war.

Generally, most of the fire power is american and hence occasionally its more likely an american bullet will hit an ally.

You assume people plan as best as possible to avoid this but being honest, its understandable it happens sometimes.

There are always rumours. Sure its possible some american was jealous of the guy but it is HIGHLY unlikely.

Answer 4

Only a few people really know what happened. It's a tragic story, but we'll have to accept the government's explanation. But this doesn't make him any more or less of a hero than anyone else that's paid the ulitmate price fighting for our country. He might have given up a lot more than anyone else, but they're all heroes.

Answer 5

He was assassinated.

Answer 6

Yes, and killed.