House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, April 24, 2007
The brother of Pat Tillman, the soldier who saw Tillman die and the naval officer who eulogized him told Congress in emotional testimony Tuesday that the military misled the nation and betrayed Tillman’s family with false stories about how the former NFL star and San Jose native died.
Kevin Tillman, who served with his brother in an Army Ranger platoon…accused leaders of “exploiting Pat’s death” with “deliberate, calculated lies” that suppressed how other Rangers accidentally killed Tillman in a 2004 “friendly fire” incident in Afghanistan.
Mary Tillman agreed the scope of the inquiry should go beyond her noteworthy son: “This really isn’t about our family or about Pat. It’s about what they did to the nation. They’re diminishing true heroism. War is ugly, bloody and painful, and to write these glorious tales is a disservice.”
…Jessica Lynch, the 19-year-old Army supply clerk captured during the first month of the Iraq war and then rescued by U.S. forces. Lynch testified Tuesday that Pentagon accounts depicting her as a “G.I. Jane” emptying her rifle at Iraqi soldiers before her capture were a public-relations fabrication.
…Spc. Bryan O’Neal, who was just yards from Tillman when he was killed…recalled how he and Tillman frantically waved and shouted as other members of the platoon fired on them. He recalled seeing blood everywhere, and seeing Tillman “slumped back on the ground, covered in blood. He was shot in the head. There wasn’t much left of him.”
Hours later, O’Neal said he was “appalled” when Lt. Col. Jeff Bailey gave him an unusual order: Don’t tell Kevin Tillman, who was serving nearby, that his brother was killed by friendly fire.
“He basically said, `Don’t let Kevin know, that he’s probably in a bad place knowing his brother is dead.’ And he made it known I would get in trouble, sir, if I spoke with Kevin on it being fratricide,” O’Neal said.
The Defense Department’s inspector general, Thomas Gimble, defended his investigation into the handling of Tillman’s death. He noted that his March report found fault with nine officers – including four generals – and that they face possible punishment.
Tillman’s case “was not well handled, but I don’t see a cover-up,” Gimble said.
Gimble admitted to the House committee that he “did not look into” possible contacts between the Pentagon and White House over the case, and that investigators did not question Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld about what he knew and when.
Instead, Rumsfeld sent a letter to the investigation that he did not know the true nature of Tillman’s death for several weeks, Gimble said.
2 Comments
April 26, 2007 at 9:26 am
Hello Nonnie!!
I watched this hearing on my computer so really looking forward to the wide screen version.
Mary Tilman is spellbinding when she gets going. Expresses herself well and has all the facts at her finger tips.
Yesterday, in another riveting c-span program, the same oversight committee voted 20 to 8 in favour to subpoena Condi Rice, to force her to appear to explain why she was such a dip shit during the time that she was National Security Adviser. Vote taken against the background noise of squealing rethugs, with Mr. Waxman shouting “Squeal like a pig, you dishonest rethug!” into the ear of Mr. Davis.
All through it the c-span guy never lost his cool once.
April 26, 2007 at 9:39 am
hi mighty mikk0mouse!
the tillman hearing was so poignant and so sad. mary tillman has such grace and dignity, as does her son and the young soldier who testified. i applaud jessica lynch for telling the true story. a couple of times, i thought some of the dems on the committee were going to throw the report at that tool, gimble!
c-span is quite exciting nowadays! who knew subpoena power could result in such riveting tv!!