Pat Tillman's mother wants 'accountability' for Gen. Stanley McChrystal

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Pat Tillman’s mother wants ‘accountability’ for Gen. Stanley McChrystal for cover-up of son’s death

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Published April 19, 2024, 4:43 p.m. ET

Nearly 20 years after Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, his mother has not given up the fight for accountability for the cover-up.

Tillman, the former NFL safety who passed up a $3.6 million contract with the Cardinals to join the U.S. Army Rangers in the wake of 9/11, was killed on April 22, 2004.

Although Tillman had been killed by friendly fire, General Stanley McChrystal approved a Silver Star award, for which the citation said Tillman died under “devastating enemy fire.”

Mary Tillman talks about her son Army Ranger Pat Tillman's death, during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the Army's misleading information regarding the death of Pat Tillman and the enemy's capture of Jessica Lynch, in Washington on April 24, 2007.
Mary Tillman talks about her son Army Ranger Pat Tillman’s death, during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the Army’s misleading information regarding the death of Pat Tillman and the enemy’s capture of Jessica Lynch, in Washington on April 24, 2007. UPI
Former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, photographed in Puyallup, Washington in this June 2003 file photograph was killed in Afghanistan on April 22 U.S. officials said April 23, 2004. Tillman, 27, was serving with the U.S. Army Rangers.
Former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, photographed in Puyallup, Washington in this June 2003 file photograph was killed in Afghanistan on April 22 U.S. officials said April 23, 2004. Tillman, 27, was serving with the U.S. Army Rangers. REUTERS

General McChrystal had reportedly been informed the truth of the tragedy on the day of Tillman’s death.

ESPN’s William Weinbaum and Jeremy Schaap spoke to Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, and asked her who she would like apologies from.

“I don’t think it would matter anymore for me. I’d like to see them have some accountability. I’d like to see McChrystal have accountability,” She said.

“I’d like to see all those corporations [that hire McChrystal as a consultant or to give speeches] turn on him and say: You know, your track record isn’t really that great in terms of integrity and honesty and truthfulness. So maybe we don’t want you to advise us anymore.”

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the United States' former top commander in Afghanistan, speaks to about 400 steel industry executives attending the American Iron and Steel Institute annual convention Monday, May, 2, 2011 in Colorado Springs. He is praising the courage of all involved in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.
Retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the United States’ former top commander in Afghanistan, speaks to about 400 steel industry executives attending the American Iron and Steel Institute annual convention Monday, May, 2, 2011 in Colorado Springs. AP

In the nationally televised eulogy of Tillman about two weeks after he died, Navy SEAL Steve White, a friend of Tillman’s, relayed the military’s false account that the hero had died under enemy fire, believing that it was true.

Gen. McChrystal got promoted to major general nine days after Tillman died.

Tillman’s mother believes that Gen. McChrystal and Gen. John Abizaid were informed quickly about what really happened.

Pat Tillman played for the Cardinals from 1998-2001.
Pat Tillman played for the Cardinals from 1998-2001. AP

“I would think it would be within 24 hours. They would have to. I mean, their heads would fly if they didn’t let ’em know. So I think he knew. I think Abizaid knew. And what’s interesting is when they asked Abizaid at that congressional hearing: Where were you when you got the P4 memo? And he just hemmed and hawed,” she told ESPN.

“He is in the congressional hearing saying: Oh, I have too many things to worry about. I can’t be worried about what happened to Pat Tillman. Well, OK. Then why were you in Afghanistan [six days after Tillman’s death] talking to his platoon leader? And the only thing I can think of is because they wanted to know what [wounded Platoon Leader Lt. David] Uthlaut knew. Because Uthlaut thought he was hit by the enemy, too. But I think that’s why Abizaid was there. That’s my opinion.”

Generals McChrystal and Abizaid declined to be interviewed by ESPN.