Kevin Tillman

Kevin Tillman (born January 24, 1978) is a former U.S. Army soldier and former Minor League Baseball second baseman. In 2002, Tillman left the Cleveland Indians organization after the September 11 attacks to enlist in the United States Army. With his older brother, former National Football League player Pat Tillman, he completed the Ranger Indoctrination Program in 2002, and they were both assigned to 2nd Battalion—75th Ranger Regiment. Kevin and Pat Tillman were deployed to the Middle East together as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.[1] In 2004, Pat was killed in combat while in Spera, Afghanistan by friendly fire.

Kevin Tillman
Born (1978-01-24) January 24, 1978
San Jose, California, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service2002–2005
Rank Specialist
Unit 2nd Ranger Battalion
75th Ranger Regiment
Battles/warsWar on terror
Other workThe Tillman Story (promotion)

Education

Tillman attended and played baseball at Arizona State University before transferring to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo where he also played Division I baseball and led the Mustangs in hits and on-base percentage during the 2001 season.[2][3]

Baseball career

Tillman was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 31st round of the June 1999 MLB Amateur Draft. Prior to enlisting, he played just one season (2001) with the Burlington Indians and the Akron Aeros in the Cleveland Indians farm system.[4]

Military career

Tillman and his brother, Pat (an NFL player at the time), enlisted together on May 31, 2002, completed training and selection for the elite United States Army Rangers in late 2002, and were assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Fort Lewis, Washington. Both Pat and Kevin Tillman were deployed to South West Asia as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In late 2004, Tillman graduated from Sniper School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[5]

In July 2005, fulfilling his 3-year enlistment, Tillman was honorably discharged from the army.

On April 24, 2007, Pete Geren, acting U.S. Secretary of the Army stated "We as an army failed in our duty to the Tillman family, the duty we owe to all the families of our fallen soldiers: Give them the truth, the best we know it, as fast as we can."[6]

Awards and decorations

Tillman and his brother won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 11th annual ESPY Awards in 2003.

Author

Kevin Tillman has been an outspoken opponent of the George W. Bush administration and the Iraq War. He has also been promoting the documentary which portrays the U.S. Government cover-up of his brother's death, The Tillman Story.

On October 19, 2006, Tillman wrote a blog article in memory of his brother that condemns recent American foreign policy.[7]

In late 2008, Tillman published the book The Transparent Pillage.[8]

Quotes
  • "We believe this narrative was intended to deceive the family but more importantly the American public."[9]
  • "The deception surrounding this case was an insult to the family: but more importantly, its primary purpose was to deceive a whole nation. We say these things with disappointment and sadness for our country. Once again, we have been used as props in a Pentagon public relations exercise."[10]

References
  1. SPC Kevin Tillman
  2. ASU graduate
  3. SLO graduate Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Kevin Tillman at Baseball-Reference
  5. Tillman at Sniper School
  6. "Pete Geren quote". Archived from the original on 2007-10-15. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  7. After Pat's Birthday
  8. Tillman, Kevin (October 2008). The Transparent Pillage. Booksurge. ISBN 1-4392-1074-8.
  9. San Diego Union-Tribune Archived 2009-01-19 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Mercury News". Archived from the original on 2007-10-15. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
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