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erinkolb's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I'm still digesting, but this was an incredible read on so many levels.
alisarae's review against another edition
5.0
I recently saw a tweet on the anniversary of Army poster boy Pat Tillman's death about how his death had been an intentional murder to shut up his criticism of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I read the AP article that suggested as much, the one with the less-than-60-yards quote from the Army's chief medical examiner who had performed Tillman's autopsy, refused to sign it because of such discrepancies with the body, and recommended a criminal investigation into Tillman's death (this request was denied).
I was shocked. Could this really be true? that as an Arizonan I had never heard this side of the story?
Thankfully Jon Krakauer, a journalist whom I really respect, wrote a book about it. I read this book specifically to find out the answer to this question. The parts about his growing up and football career were well written, but since I didn't care about any of that, I found it boring. The parts about the convoluted politics of Afghanistan and Pakistan were brief but informative, and I learned a lot. And about the Tillman conspiracy, I got my answer.
Yes, there was a conspiracy from the highest levels of the US government to cover up Tillman's fratricide, but not to murder him. Donald Rumsfeld had been personally tracking Tillman's career since his first weeks at bootcamp, and Tillman's platoon leader in the Rangers was also known by name by top brass since he had graduated first in class at West Point and had been chosen to lead a parade during Bush's inauguration.
As far as Krakauer can tell: enemies did launch a few mortars or grenades at the convoy that was hauling a broken Humvee through a narrow canyon. The convoy started returning fire, and the half of the platoon that had gone ahead of the convoy group (Tillman's group) turned around to assist. Tillman and two other men ran up on a ledge above the canyon and did not see any enemy fighters at that point. Despite repeated calls from both halves of the platoon on the radios to cease fire, being visible enough that nearly all the officers involved said they could see US-issued camo uniforms on the ledge, a purple smoke bomb thrown to alert the officers in the canyon that they were friendly, and waving their arms in the air with their weapons down, Tillman and one other man who followed him were killed. The elite Ranger who killed Tillman was completely out of control: he was shooting directly behind him at vehicles in his own convoy and refused to stop shooting even when another soldier pulled on his pants while yelling to cease fire. The firefight lasted nearly 15 minutes.
What a nightmare, but it didn't end there. From the very outset of dealing with the body, Army protocol was broken—Tillman's uniform was removed and burned, including some of his personal effects that his brother Kevin (who served alongside him from bootcamp through the Rangers) repeatedly requested be retrieved. The White House, ie Rumsfeld and Bush, were informed of Tillman's fratricide before the Tillman family had been informed of his death. Orders from the very top down were to deliberately mislead and even outright lie about how Tillman had been killed. In fact, it wasn't until Kevin reunited with his Rangers platoon after a grieving period that the Army realized the keeping the gag order on nearly 600 people whom Kevin worked, slept, ate and drank with wasn't going to last long, and they tried to get ahead of the problem. They told Kevin, then the White House prepared a no-questions press conference to happen on Memorial Day weekend when most Americans wouldn't be paying attention. The news leaked and the press were the ones who informed Tillman's mother of the truth. If Pat hadn't been famous, and if Kevin hadn't returned to work, would the truth ever have gotten out? Many of the people involved grew disillusioned and even disgusted with the military over the incident, seeing through thin attempts to distract and placate soldiers from the reality that the military only cares about them so long as they are alive.
Addressing specific points from the inaccurate conspiracy theory about Tillman's death:
- The medical examiner assumed one type of gun had been used (a semi-automatic), when actually an automatic weapon that takes the same type of bullets was what killed Pat Tillman. This is how the 3 bullet holes so accurately close together on his forehead came to be: they were a burst shot, not 3 separate trigger pulls. The medical examiner didn't know that because of stonewalling & inaccurate testimony.
- Pat Tillman was against the war in Iraq from the start and was disillusioned with Army procedures from the get-go. But he believed he was doing good work in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan is why he had enlisted in the first place. He was critical of US foreign policy, military actions, and the Bush administration, but only to friends, family, and his journals. He repeatedly turned down media requests for interviews. It doesn't make sense that he was killed to shut him up about his critical views of the war when he wasn't even talking to the public about it. He was a very private person by nature. Plus, he had the chance to leave the Army early and return to his NFL career but refused to take it in order to fulfill his 3-year commitment. Interestingly, it's Kevin Tillman who has been more publicly critical of US foreign policy: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/15/kevin-tillman-brother-pat-draws-line-afghanistan-capitol-riot/7236324002/
Good book, good reporting! I'm glad I read it.
I was shocked. Could this really be true? that as an Arizonan I had never heard this side of the story?
Thankfully Jon Krakauer, a journalist whom I really respect, wrote a book about it. I read this book specifically to find out the answer to this question. The parts about his growing up and football career were well written, but since I didn't care about any of that, I found it boring. The parts about the convoluted politics of Afghanistan and Pakistan were brief but informative, and I learned a lot. And about the Tillman conspiracy, I got my answer.
Yes, there was a conspiracy from the highest levels of the US government to cover up Tillman's fratricide, but not to murder him. Donald Rumsfeld had been personally tracking Tillman's career since his first weeks at bootcamp, and Tillman's platoon leader in the Rangers was also known by name by top brass since he had graduated first in class at West Point and had been chosen to lead a parade during Bush's inauguration.
As far as Krakauer can tell: enemies did launch a few mortars or grenades at the convoy that was hauling a broken Humvee through a narrow canyon. The convoy started returning fire, and the half of the platoon that had gone ahead of the convoy group (Tillman's group) turned around to assist. Tillman and two other men ran up on a ledge above the canyon and did not see any enemy fighters at that point. Despite repeated calls from both halves of the platoon on the radios to cease fire, being visible enough that nearly all the officers involved said they could see US-issued camo uniforms on the ledge, a purple smoke bomb thrown to alert the officers in the canyon that they were friendly, and waving their arms in the air with their weapons down, Tillman and one other man who followed him were killed. The elite Ranger who killed Tillman was completely out of control: he was shooting directly behind him at vehicles in his own convoy and refused to stop shooting even when another soldier pulled on his pants while yelling to cease fire. The firefight lasted nearly 15 minutes.
What a nightmare, but it didn't end there. From the very outset of dealing with the body, Army protocol was broken—Tillman's uniform was removed and burned, including some of his personal effects that his brother Kevin (who served alongside him from bootcamp through the Rangers) repeatedly requested be retrieved. The White House, ie Rumsfeld and Bush, were informed of Tillman's fratricide before the Tillman family had been informed of his death. Orders from the very top down were to deliberately mislead and even outright lie about how Tillman had been killed. In fact, it wasn't until Kevin reunited with his Rangers platoon after a grieving period that the Army realized the keeping the gag order on nearly 600 people whom Kevin worked, slept, ate and drank with wasn't going to last long, and they tried to get ahead of the problem. They told Kevin, then the White House prepared a no-questions press conference to happen on Memorial Day weekend when most Americans wouldn't be paying attention. The news leaked and the press were the ones who informed Tillman's mother of the truth. If Pat hadn't been famous, and if Kevin hadn't returned to work, would the truth ever have gotten out? Many of the people involved grew disillusioned and even disgusted with the military over the incident, seeing through thin attempts to distract and placate soldiers from the reality that the military only cares about them so long as they are alive.
Addressing specific points from the inaccurate conspiracy theory about Tillman's death:
- The medical examiner assumed one type of gun had been used (a semi-automatic), when actually an automatic weapon that takes the same type of bullets was what killed Pat Tillman. This is how the 3 bullet holes so accurately close together on his forehead came to be: they were a burst shot, not 3 separate trigger pulls. The medical examiner didn't know that because of stonewalling & inaccurate testimony.
- Pat Tillman was against the war in Iraq from the start and was disillusioned with Army procedures from the get-go. But he believed he was doing good work in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan is why he had enlisted in the first place. He was critical of US foreign policy, military actions, and the Bush administration, but only to friends, family, and his journals. He repeatedly turned down media requests for interviews. It doesn't make sense that he was killed to shut him up about his critical views of the war when he wasn't even talking to the public about it. He was a very private person by nature. Plus, he had the chance to leave the Army early and return to his NFL career but refused to take it in order to fulfill his 3-year commitment. Interestingly, it's Kevin Tillman who has been more publicly critical of US foreign policy: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/15/kevin-tillman-brother-pat-draws-line-afghanistan-capitol-riot/7236324002/
Good book, good reporting! I'm glad I read it.
stlkatiek's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
I always enjoy nonfiction that does a deep dive in a topic I'm vaguely familiar with (and more often than not, unfamiliar with the actual facts.) another fascinating read.
Read it because:
I've been on a tear reading Jon Krakauer's books lately
Read it because:
I've been on a tear reading Jon Krakauer's books lately
lalawoman416's review against another edition
5.0
Krakauer does it again.... Honestly didn't know much about Pat Tilman. Humbling story. Tragic loss. Treacherous cover up.
acsaper's review against another edition
5.0
Whoa. . . .
What a revealing and captivating piece. Taking us straight to the battle field of the the War on Terror in both Afghanistan and Iraq, Krakauer's investigative journalism (for lack of better term) exposes the audacious mendacity that prevailed throughout the military during Bush administration.
Chronicling the all-too-short life of former Arizona Cardinals linebacker, Pat Tillman, 'Where Men Win Glory' fights to expound the story of a man cut down at the hands of his friends and confidants. Two fascinating stories are intertwined throughout the book.
The first sheds light on the previously misrepresented character, Pat Tillman, whom Krakauer elegantly portrays as the compassionate and thoughtful, yet absolutely dominant alpha-male that those who knew him best saw him as. The second, more twisted tale is that of deceit, deception and brazen perfidy running rampant throughout the Bush administration's handling of the armed services.
Having left a lucrative career in the NFL to serve in our Nation's military, Tillman's life was cut short when he was killed in battle, not by an enemy's bullet but rather at the hand of his own platoon members, fellow Army Rangers. The shocking part of the story however is not so much the manner in which Pat died, as fratricide is ever becoming a more prevalent part of war, but rather the great lengths to which military leaders went to cover up the event in order to fulfill a political agenda.
The book is riveting from cover to cover as Krakauer writes for a reader's enjoyment. From this short text it is evident that Pat Tillman was an incredible man who lived a wholly admirable life. Whether taking the time to get to know the outcast in his platoon to never letting a hangover get the best of his morning runs, Tillman gave 100% to everything he did, and, perhaps most importantly, kept an open mind in the process.
It is embarrassing and appalling to read about the government's handling of Pat's death. I can only hope that others find inspiration in his story as well as the great effort put forth by Krakauer and the Tillman family in uncovering the truth about Pat's death.
What a revealing and captivating piece. Taking us straight to the battle field of the the War on Terror in both Afghanistan and Iraq, Krakauer's investigative journalism (for lack of better term) exposes the audacious mendacity that prevailed throughout the military during Bush administration.
Chronicling the all-too-short life of former Arizona Cardinals linebacker, Pat Tillman, 'Where Men Win Glory' fights to expound the story of a man cut down at the hands of his friends and confidants. Two fascinating stories are intertwined throughout the book.
The first sheds light on the previously misrepresented character, Pat Tillman, whom Krakauer elegantly portrays as the compassionate and thoughtful, yet absolutely dominant alpha-male that those who knew him best saw him as. The second, more twisted tale is that of deceit, deception and brazen perfidy running rampant throughout the Bush administration's handling of the armed services.
Having left a lucrative career in the NFL to serve in our Nation's military, Tillman's life was cut short when he was killed in battle, not by an enemy's bullet but rather at the hand of his own platoon members, fellow Army Rangers. The shocking part of the story however is not so much the manner in which Pat died, as fratricide is ever becoming a more prevalent part of war, but rather the great lengths to which military leaders went to cover up the event in order to fulfill a political agenda.
The book is riveting from cover to cover as Krakauer writes for a reader's enjoyment. From this short text it is evident that Pat Tillman was an incredible man who lived a wholly admirable life. Whether taking the time to get to know the outcast in his platoon to never letting a hangover get the best of his morning runs, Tillman gave 100% to everything he did, and, perhaps most importantly, kept an open mind in the process.
It is embarrassing and appalling to read about the government's handling of Pat's death. I can only hope that others find inspiration in his story as well as the great effort put forth by Krakauer and the Tillman family in uncovering the truth about Pat's death.
danoreading's review against another edition
3.0
A wonderful audio book rendition of this book. I am kind of obsessed with Jon Krakauer and Scott Brick. A sad and infuriating story.
belwood303's review against another edition
4.0
An amazing man, an amazing family, and a chilling story. Krakauer brings his narrative talents together to give you a complete, and therefore complicated, story of a man driven to put his beliefs into action. The flaws and shortcomings, the disappointment and disillusion. Tillman is not perfect but he was a man people admired not because of his star status but because of his character. He was a hero which is why his death did not need to be distorted or a false pictured painted. The tragic events of his death should be used to teach and train young men in future situations, it should be an example used to help change a deeply engrained culture that helped set in motion the behaviors and attitudes that were at the heart of this accident.
michelle_ltc's review against another edition
4.0
I would need a week's worth of discussion groups to say all I have to say. In short, we all know a "Pat Tillman" in our lives. I can name at least two or three and all of them felt called to military duty, as he was. The book contains components that I thoroughly enjoyed such as:
an intimate biographical sketch of Pat Tillman's life, depicting good and bad events that molded him into the person that our country came to admire,
and a review of historical events over the last century and how they related to the rise to power of the Taliban and Al Qaeda,
And there were components of hot debate such as:
corruption in power and politics, and the ugly sides of war, including one of the inevitable tragedies of any war, friendly fire.
Questions left in my mind:
Would I have preferred to believe the lie? Some deceptions are made to ease a family's pain, similar to a "white lie" to keep from hurting someone's feelings. Does that make it right?
Would I have wanted to name my child's killer and all related to the event in print for all the world to see? I keep thinking about the fact these are basically kids 19-24. What do I think would have been a just punishment? The higher chain of command, I would have definitely wanted much harsher prosecution, but to what extent? ruin an entire career?
How can we keep politics from affecting the lives of our troops? is it possible?
This is a great book for inspiring debate and one that elicits many different emotions.
an intimate biographical sketch of Pat Tillman's life, depicting good and bad events that molded him into the person that our country came to admire,
and a review of historical events over the last century and how they related to the rise to power of the Taliban and Al Qaeda,
And there were components of hot debate such as:
corruption in power and politics, and the ugly sides of war, including one of the inevitable tragedies of any war, friendly fire.
Questions left in my mind:
Would I have preferred to believe the lie? Some deceptions are made to ease a family's pain, similar to a "white lie" to keep from hurting someone's feelings. Does that make it right?
Would I have wanted to name my child's killer and all related to the event in print for all the world to see? I keep thinking about the fact these are basically kids 19-24. What do I think would have been a just punishment? The higher chain of command, I would have definitely wanted much harsher prosecution, but to what extent? ruin an entire career?
How can we keep politics from affecting the lives of our troops? is it possible?
This is a great book for inspiring debate and one that elicits many different emotions.
xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Pat Tillman was born in 1976 in California. He became a professional football player in the National Football League, playing for the Arizona Cardinals. After the terrorist attacks, Tillman enlisted in the United States Army Rangers. He served several tours of duty overseas, before being killed by accidental friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. This book discusses Tilman's life and military service.
This was a pretty moving book to me. I think books like this affect me a lot having lost someone because of this war. Not IN the war, but after because of things they experienced. I enjoyed this book.
This was a pretty moving book to me. I think books like this affect me a lot having lost someone because of this war. Not IN the war, but after because of things they experienced. I enjoyed this book.
kylenards1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75