Retired General Censured in Tillman Case

Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger Jr., center, outgoing commander of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, at Fort Bragg, N.C., kisses his wife, Greta, as U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker, right, looks on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005. Kensinger Jr., one of the highest-ranking officers in the Army, personally kept the truth of Pat Tillman's death from the former NFL star's family. Pentagon officials said Tuesday, July 31, 2007, the retired general will be reprimanded for providing misleading information. (AP Photo/The Fayetteville Observer, Stephanie Bruce) (Stephanie Bruce - Associated Press)

Nixon is now a top official at U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Fla.

Geren said that investigations have conclusively shown that accidental fire from U.S. troops was responsible for the death in Afghanistan of Tillman, who had walked away from a $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals to become an Army Ranger.

The Army initially suggested that Tillman, 27, had been killed in a firefight with enemy militia forces. The Army then arranged a ceremony to award Tillman a Silver Star for bravery.

Five weeks after his death, the Army notified the Tillman family that Tillman died from rounds fired in error by U.S. troops.

Geren cited "multiple actions on the part of multiple soldiers" in compounding the confusion that surrounded the death.

But there "was never any effort to mislead or hide" or keep embarrassing information from the public, Geren said.

He said Tillman deserved the Silver Star, the military's third- highest award for valor in combat, despite the circumstances surrounding his death.

He could understand how the Tillman family and other Americans might reach the conclusion that there was a cover-up, Geren said.

"The facts just don't support this conclusion," he said. "There was no cover-up."

But he said, "We have made mistakes over and over and over, an incredible number of mistakes in handling this. We have destroyed our credibility in their eyes as well as in the eyes of others."

Tillman's family has insisted there was a cover-up that went as high as Rumsfeld. Geren was asked whether there was any indication Rumsfeld was aware that Tillman's death was by friendly fire before that information was made public.

"I have no knowledge of any evidence to that end," Geren replied.