Kevin Tillman
Encyclopedia
Kevin Tillman is a former Minor League Baseball
second baseman
who left the Cleveland Indians
after September 11, 2001 to enlist in the United States Army
. With his brother, former National Football League
star Pat Tillman
, he completed Ranger School in 2002, and they were both assigned to 2nd Battalion - 75th Ranger Regiment. Pat and Kevin Tillman were deployed to the Middle East together as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2004, Tillman's brother, Pat, was killed in combat while in Afghanistan by friendly fire.
and California Polytechnic State University
(Cal Poly
) in San Luis Obispo.
of the Cleveland Indians
farm club.
(a former NFL
player) enlisted together on 31 May 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.
On April 24, 2007, Pete Geren
, acting 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."
In July 2005, fulfilling his 3-year enlistment, Tillman was honorably discharged from the Army.
at the 11th annual ESPY Awards
in 2003.
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 weblog article in memory of his brother that condemns recent American foreign policy.
In late 2008, Tillman published the book The Transparent Pillage.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
who left the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
after September 11, 2001 to enlist in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. With his brother, former National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
star Pat Tillman
Pat Tillman
Corporal Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman Jr. was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the...
, he completed Ranger School in 2002, and they were both assigned to 2nd Battalion - 75th Ranger Regiment. Pat and Kevin Tillman were deployed to the Middle East together as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2004, Tillman's brother, Pat, was killed in combat while in Afghanistan by friendly fire.
Education
He graduated from Arizona State UniversityArizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
and California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
(Cal Poly
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
) in San Luis Obispo.
Baseball career
Tillman was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 31st round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft. Prior to enlisting, he played just one season (2001) with the Burlington Indians and the Akron AerosAkron Aeros
The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...
of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
farm club.
Military career
Tillman and his more well-known brother PatPat Tillman
Corporal Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman Jr. was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the...
(a former NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player) enlisted together on 31 May 2002, completed training and selection for the elite United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
in late 2002, and were assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
, Washington. Both Pat and Kevin Tillman were deployed to South West Asia as part of Operation Enduring Freedom
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
.
In late 2004, Tillman graduated from Sniper School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
On April 24, 2007, Pete Geren
Pete Geren
Preston M. "Pete" Geren, III served as the 20th United States Secretary of the Army from July 16, 2007 to September 16, 2009...
, acting 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."
In July 2005, fulfilling his 3-year enlistment, Tillman was honorably discharged from the Army.
Awards and decorations
Tillman and his brother won the Arthur Ashe Courage AwardArthur Ashe Courage Award
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is an award that is part of the ESPY Awards. Although it is a sport-oriented award, it is not limited to sports-related people or actions.-List of recipients:-External links:***...
at the 11th annual ESPY Awards
ESPY Awards
An ESPY Award is an accolade presented by the American cable television network ESPN to recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony. The first ESPYs were awarded in 1993...
in 2003.
Author
Kevin Tillman has been an outspoken opponent of the George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
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
The Tillman Story
The Tillman Story is a 2010 documentary film directed by Amir Bar-Lev. The film is about the 2004 death of U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman in the war in Afghanistan, the cover-up of the true circumstances of his death, and his family's struggle to unearth the truth. It was nominated for the Grand...
.
On October 19, 2006, Tillman wrote a weblog article in memory of his brother that condemns recent American foreign policy.
In late 2008, Tillman published the book The Transparent Pillage.
Quotes
- “We believe this narrative was intended to deceive the family but more importantly the American public,”
- "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."