A barrage of friendly fire killed Mary and Patrick Tillman's 27-year-old son, Army Ranger Pat Tillman.
But lies and deception are also to blame for his family's prolonged suffering.
Today I want to honor a courageous young man and his devoted family with the truth -- something the U.S. military has long denied Pat Tillman's widow, parents, siblings and the American public who loved him.
Tillman was our hometown hero. He was an adopted Phoenician, an ASU Sun Devil and our favorite Cardinal football star.
We revered him when he turned down a $3.6 million football contract to serve and protect his country from post-Sept. 11 threats.
He was the kind of humble guy who shunned the spotlight. "I play football. It just seems so unimportant compared to everything that has taken place," he told NFL films.
He credited his family for fighting previous wars, saying "I really haven't done a damn thing."
Tillman's noble sacrifice became the military's favorite recruiting tool. The government claimed him as a poster boy for the war on terror.
Then the military repaid the mourning family with a deceitful cover-up of their son's last day as an American soldier.
The tragic facts of Cpl. Pat Tillman's death in Afghanistan were documented in sworn statements by at least 14 soldiers who witnessed his shooting.
Yet on April 30, 2004, the U.S. Army, contradicting witness accounts, released a fabricated report blaming Tillman's death on enemy combatants.
The false account would tarnish the reputation of the military that Tillman so bravely gave his life to.
Worse, the lies forced the Tillmans to fight in honor of their son's memory for a detailed testament of the truth.
Those who knew Pat Tillman would expect no lesser tribute to a man who valued honor and principle above all else.
The Tillmans discovered that on April 21, 2004, their son died at the hands of fellow soldiers.
Confusion, inexperience, fear, misconduct and negligence on behalf of superiors and their charges contributed to the fatal moment when a platoon gunner disregarded safety procedures to identify his target and emptied every round in his machine gun.
"Cease fire! Friendlies!" Tillman cried. "I'm Pat [expletive] Tillman!"
Army records show Tillman survived the first onslaught of bullets. A young ranger beside him prayed for their lives as the fierce attack persisted. Desperate, Tillman detonated a grenade to show his platoon they were shooting at U.S. soldiers.
When the firing ceased, Tillman stood up in relief. But a second wave of bullets sounded, wounding Tillman in his torso. The third and final torrent, let loose at 60 yards, killed him.
Last Friday, two years after the Army first released its lies, the Defense Department notified the Tillman family there was sufficient evidence to order the Army to open a criminal inquiry into their son's death.
This will be the Army's fourth investigation into the matter.
Military superiors fabricated the results of the first analysis after the investigating officer refused to alter his findings.
Tillman's father believes the Army's subsequent inquiries were "shams."
"After it happened, all the people in positions of authority went out of their way to script this," he said. "They purposely interfered with the investigation, they covered it up. They realized that their recruiting efforts were going to go to hell in a handbasket if the truth about his death got out. They blew up their poster boy."
Our country clearly failed Pat Tillman and his family.
It's time to right our wrong, and raise our voice alongside Mary and Patrick Tillman in their worthy call for accountability. It's a small debt to those who guard our safety with their lives.
Dianna is a graduate student. Reach her at dianna.nanez@asu.edu.
