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, 5-20-08; Revised 7-17-08
 
TIMELINE OF TILLMAN FRATRICIDE NOTIFICATION
IG Report, Appendix B Chronology (pp.70- 76) :From Testimony & IG Report :April 22:
Tillman killed in action in Afghanistan.Col [?] (McChrystal’s Chief of Staff)approves causalty report KIA.PFC O’Neal tells 1SG of possibility of friendly fire
April 23:
CSM Birch informs LTC Bailey of suspected fratricide,CSM Birch: “I would say I was probably.recommends an investigation. 70% sure it was fratricide”. (Jones, CS)LTC
 
Bailey verbally assigns CPT Scott to conduct 15-6LTC Bailey tells COL Nixon suspects fratricide and Bailey tells Nixon “I was certain we hadinvestigation initiated. killed him … we need to do the 15-6, Sofrom that time forward I never doubtedwhether or not we had killed Pat Tillman”.COL Nixon calls GEN McChrystal to inform
OR 
McChrystal: “about a day or two after thehim of Tillman’s death. incident … [Nixon] told me he suspectedfratricide … and was investigating it.”
Note:
Wouldn’t Nixon tell McChrystal of(no later than 25th)suspected fratricide & investigation the same day Nixon was told? Wouldn’t Chief of Staff have alreadytold him of KIA? Or seen it on CNN?GEN McChrystal while meeting with GEN Abizaid McChrystal tells Abizaid while intells him that Tillman had been killed in action.Qatar for a meeting “that Tillman had been killed in combat, and that thecircumstances surrounding his death wereheroic.” (Abizaid, Waxman 8/07)
OR Note
: Wouldn’t McChrystal tell Abizaid ofMcChrystal informs GEN Abizaid “of suspected fratricide and investigation the sameTillman’s death while they were in Qatar for day he learned of it? (not “death” or “KIA”)a meeting at the time of Tillman’s death… but he received no details and did not knowAbiziad says “no details” but later “heroic” death?that friendly fire was suspected” (Abizaid,IG 3/07)Abizaid “called the Chairman and discussedthat with the Chairman.” (Waxman, 8/07)
IG Report, Appendix B Chronology (pp.70- 76) :From Testimony & IG Report :
 
April 23 (continued):
 Nixon said he told Kensinger “almostimmediately” of the possibility of friendly fire and beginning investigation.Yellen testified that he told Kensinger of the possibility of friendly fire the day after Tillman’s death [23
rd
].
OR 
Yellen testified that told of death by Nixonon 23
rd
and friendly fire investigation on the24
th
.McChrystal calls Brown “shortly after –  perhaps a few days after the death - to say itwas a possibility that this was friendly fireand that he was investigating”
April 24:
2
nd
Platoon returns to battalion FOB.CPT Scott takes statements and beginsinterviews.Bailey: “After the first day [of interviews]… there was no doubt about it.” … I
Note:
CPT Scott and LTC Bailey confirmed confirmed it.” “So, after [Scott] did the firstfratricide and told Nixon on the 24
th
! Nixon five interviews, he came back to me and saidnever passed this information up his chain “Sir, I’m certain. I’m sure. And then Iof command?! called [Nixon]” Nixon: “… I believed it was myresponsibility to tell the family once I hadthe facts involved with that. … it took aconsiderable time [2 days!] to get truth or the best level of truth that we could get outof the investigation.” Nixon told Yellen that possible fratricide.
April 25
: No later than April 25
th
, COL Nixon informsGEN Yellen: “… just a few days after theMG McChrystal and BG Yellen of suspectedincident Nixon called me … doing thefratricide and that investigation was initiated. investigation … may be friendly fire.”Platoon AAR conductedGEN Brown: “[McChrystal] called shortlyafter – perhaps a few days after death -… possibility friendly fire … investigating”
Note:
It was COL [?]’s responsibility as Joint TaskMcChrystal and COL [?] (Joint Task ForceForce Chief of Staff to transmit supplemental casualty Chief of Staff) “were aware of friendly firereport after learning of friendly fire. (see IG p. 80)as early as [NLT?] 25
th
.”
IG Report, Appendix B Chronology (pp.70 – 76) :From Testimony & IG Report :
 
April 27:
Autopsy conducted by AFME.COL Nixon approves Silver Star 
April 28:
MG McChrystal approves Silver Star.Abizaid in Afghanisatan. Claims no onetold him of fratricide. Visits LT Uthalut inhospital on the 29
th
.
April 29:
 Written appointment of CPT Scott’s 15-6 by COL NixonScott’s “AR 15-6 Final Report 4-29-04”submitted to Nixon?MG McChrystal sends P4 to Abizaid, Brown, and P4 drafted by Nixon.Kensinger that friendly fire likely outcome of pendinginvestigation. However, the fratricide should not takeaway from the valorous Silver Star award.Silver Star approved by Acting Secretary of the Army. 
Note:
Recipients of P4 already knew aboutfratricide and investigation. The only newswas that the Silver Star was going through.It appears to me that the P4’s purpose was just to cover McChrystal’s butt by providinga
 paper 
trail that even knowing about thefratricide he still felt the Silver Star wasdeserved.
April 30:
PA press release announcing Silver Star awardPremature release of Silver Star draftRegimental JAG does not disclose fratricideto CID acting on request by medicalexaminer.
May 3:
Tillman memorial service
IG Report, Appendix B, Chronology (p 70 – 76) :From Testimony & IG Report :May 4:
CPT Scott submits his AR15-6 recommendationsGEN Kensinger says [Nixon] informed him
of 00

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