Army Reprimands in Tillman Case Mild

Cpl. Pat Tillman is seen in a this 2003 file photo provided by Photography Plus. Tillman's direct superiors knew within hours of his April 2004 death in Afghanistan that the former football star had been killed by fellow Army Rangers, but the truth was kept from the public and Tillman's family for five weeks _ in direct violation of Army regulations. Official reprimands issued to three high-ranking Army officers are only mildly critical of their mistakes after the friendly fire death of Pat Tillman and at times praise the officers. The Army also said it would not include the reprimands in the officers' military records, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Photography Plus via Williamson Stealth Media Solutions, FILE) (AP)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Official reprimands issued to three high-ranking Army officers are only mildly critical of their mistakes after the friendly fire death of Pat Tillman and at times praise the officers.

The Army also said it would not include the reprimands in the officers' military records, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.

Tillman's direct superiors knew within hours of his April 2004 death in Afghanistan that the former football star had been killed by fellow Army Rangers, but the truth was kept from the public and Tillman's family for five weeks _ in direct violation of Army regulations.

"You should not consider this as an adverse action," letters to the officers say. "This document will not be filed in any system of records maintained by the Army."

Tillman's death attracted widespread attention because he had turned down an NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals to join the military after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Subsequent investigations into his death and congressional hearings raised questions both about the circumstances of his death and the immediate follow-up.

Last week, the Army announced that seven officers would be disciplined for critical errors related to the incident. The military laid most of the blame on Philip Kensinger, a retired three-star general who led Army special operations forces after Sept. 11.

Kensinger was censured for "a failure of leadership" and accused of lying to investigators. A stinging disciplinary letter recommending his demotion was released by the Army last week.

But according to three more "memorandums of concern" obtained by the AP, Kensinger was the only one to receive such harsh criticism.

Retired Brig. Gen. Gary Jones, who led one of the early investigations, was criticized by Army Commanding Gen. William Wallace for accepting Kensinger "at his word" and for incorrectly characterizing Tillman's actions in describing why he should be awarded a Silver Star.

The letter from Wallace includes broad compliments, telling Jones he approached his investigation with "due vigor, diligence and professionalism." Wallace writes that misleading Army leaders, members of Congress and the Tillman family was "a fundamental mistake" with "significant consequences," but he says he understands it was "unintentional."

Brig. Gen. Gina Farrisee, director of military personnel management at the Pentagon, was criticized for failing to respond to "red flags" raised by medical examiners who doubted Tillman's mortal head wounds were caused by enemy fire.

"Had you acted differently once the medical examiners raised the red flags, many of the Tillman family's valid complaints that ensued could have been avoided," Wallace wrote.