In “The Tillman Story,” The Murder Of Pat Tillman Shows The Depths Senior Officials Will Go To Obscure The Truth

“The real test of a man is not when he plays the role he wants for himself, but when he plays the role destiny has for him.” —Jan Patocka

“This isn’t about Pat. This is about what they did to a nation.” –Dannie Tillman

“The Tillman Story” is the tale of a man who bucked the system and lost his life in the most unfathomable way. It’s the story of a fierce family that wouldn’t accept a cover-up or heed the military’s warnings advice to quietly go away and mourn. It’s the account of the bravery of fellow soldiers Russell Baer and Bryan O’Neal to eventually speak out on what really happened to Pat Tillman in the mountains of Afghanistan in 2004.

By now, you probably know the backstory of Tillman, who famously gave up a multimillion-dollar NFL contract to enlist and eventually become a U.S. Army Ranger. It would be easy to paint him as the hero, in strokes that have become so familiar to his legend ... but the hero of the story really turns out to be Dannie Tillman, the mother who bulldogs for the truth until she can no longer be ignored. In her quest, she turns to Stan Goff, an ex-paramilitary blogger, whose involvement certainly adds a lot to the hunt and the story, especially with his description of figuring out redacted records being much like doing a crossword puzzle and his reference to politics as “theatrical wrestling.”

Of course, Tillman has aquired a mythical public dimension, but all his family asks is for accuracy. The understandably bitter and brutally honest youngest brother, Rich, says, “He’s now what these people wished he was,” touching on the idea that Tillman has been turned into something that Pat wouldn’t exactly have endorsed. Like many of those who knew him best, the youngest brother bristles at how much Tillman has been turned into a mascot—the exact thing Pat would have rebelled against. How could a guy who wanted to keep the decision to enlist with Kevin private and secret also endorse being a symbol of the military and sacrifice?

“We’ll turn his dead body into a recruiting poster,” said Goff at one point, summing up the thinking of the powers-that-be.

Goff’s quote points up the almost mind-numbing hypocrisy inherent in the entire situation. The ineptitude of the government led us into a war we never should have been in. The ineptitude of the military killed Pat Tillman. And then that government and that military used that murder to promote the war? The film forces us to ask the question: What kind of sick circular logic is that?!

Outrageous and atrocity are other words that are peppered throughout the film. As the story progresses, we come to realize that there was not an ambush at all, which was the excuse given for Tillman’s death. Later, it was revealed that all of Tillman’s possessions were destroyed in a “fire,” which fueled not only belief that it was friendly fire, but that Tillman could possibly even have been murdered.

There is some mention of political aspirations, and whether Pat Tillman really had them or not. The unquestioned reality is that Tillman was becoming disillusioned with the war and the propaganda, and was even entertaining a return to football, having talked to Dave McGinnis, his former coach with the Cardinals, about the prospect.

I have no doubt that the full scenario of the gunplay was not fully covered in the movie and that the complete, accurate account may never be known; yet I think it’s safe to say that something occurred that wasn’t truthfully documented.

“They made up a story,” said Dannie.

“What he’s saying here is a complete lie,” said O’Neal, when shown videotape of testimony by another soldier asked about the circumstances surrounding Tillman’s murder.

As the story kept changing, Tillman’s father penned a letter that ended with “fuck you,” which unwittingly triggered a new, official, 18-month investigation that stretched all the way up to Commander of Joint Special Operations Command Stanley McCrystal, but settled for Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Kauzlarich.

The dominant scene of the entire episode was the final Congressional hearing, which was a complete sham full of lies, half-truths and claims of misremembrances, eroding any faith that even the most cynical of observers might still have had in our government. It’s apparent to everyone that the lies go all the way to the top, and when accountability never enters the equation at any stage, it’s fair to ask where this stuff actually ends.

This documentary by director Amir Bar-Levy (and narrated by Josh Brolin) is tremendously well-done, evoking Michael Moore documentaries with its depth of investigative reporting and research. The biggest missing piece was the absence of Kevin, Pat’s older brother and best friend, in the documentary, though it is obviously understandable why he might not have wanted to contribute.

“The Tillman Story” is a celebration of the chase for truth and honor at all costs and despite all obstacles, and was rightly nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Be warned, though; as well put-together as it is, it will should also fill you with rage.