By RICHARD LARDNER and ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writers 2 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The Army on Tuesday reprimanded a retired general for the chain of errors that followed the friendly-fire death in 2004 of Army Ranger Pat Tillman. The Army referred to a special panel whether he should also be demoted, a document obtained by The Associated Press said. The reprimanded officer was retired Army Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. WASHINGTON (AP) — Retired Army Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger is expected to bear much of the service's blame for the chain of errors that followed the friendly fire death in 2004 of Army Ranger Pat Tillman. At a Pentagon briefing Tuesday, Army Secretary Pete Geren was to announce the results of his review into how Tillman's family was led to believe he'd died a combat hero in Afghanistan though the former NFL player had actually been killed by U.S. troops. The Associated Press reported last week Kensinger could be demoted to two-star rank from three-star and be formally reprimanded. But Geren could also appoint a review board to examine the matter further, defense officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision hadn't been made public. As many as seven officers could face punishment for their roles in the aftermath of Tillman's death. Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, head of the military's Joint Special Operations Command, was not expected to be held responsible for any failures. McChrystal oversees the military's most sensitive counterterrorism operations. Geren briefed Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., Tuesday morning and told the congressman that Kensinger lied to military investigators on multiple occasions to protect himself, according to Daniel Kohns, Honda's spokesman. Kensinger was head of Army special operations when Tillman was killed. Kensinger retired in February 2006. Honda, a Democrat who represents the area where Tillman grew up, believes "there are lingering questions hanging over this that point to the possibility of it going broader and higher," Kohns said. But Geren "stated that to the best of his knowledge it does not go higher than this, that he exhausted every line of investigation," said Kohns, who sat in on the briefing. A review of the aftermath of Tillman's death by the Pentagon inspector general — one of more than half a dozen investigations so far — found "compelling evidence that Kensinger learned of suspected fratricide well before the memorial service and provided misleading testimony" on that issue. That misrepresentation, the report said, could constitute a "false official statement," a violation of the Military Code of Justice. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee issued a subpoena Monday night for testimony from Kensinger, said committee spokeswoman Karen Lightfoot. The subpoena is currently in the hands of U.S. marshals who are trying to deliver it in advance of Wednesday's committee hearing on the Tillman affair, Lightfoot said. According to a Pentagon inspector general's report, McChrystal warned senior military commanders a week after Tillman's death that friendly fire would be a likely outcome of an investigation into his death. Yet McChrystal said Tillman still deserved a Silver Star, the military's third highest award for valor in combat.
In the March 26 report, the inspector general said McChrystal was accountable for not alerting the offices that process military awards "that friendly fire was suspected to ensure that the recommendation was considered based on accurate information." The inspector general recommended the Army secretary take whatever action he deemed appropriate. Geren then named Army Gen. William Wallace to review the investigations and recommend disciplinary actions. Wallace disagreed with initial findings against McChrystal, according to military officials. McChrystal was appointed by former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to the JSOC post in September 2003. In early 2006, Rumsfeld elevated the status of the command by nominating McChrystal for promotion to lieutenant general.
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