Editorial: Censure of retired general appropriate in Tillman case

On Tuesday, retired Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger, who led U.S. Army Special Forces operations in Afghanistan after 9/11, was censured for withholding information about the cause of death of U.S. Army Cpl. Pat Tillman. He may also face demotion.

The censure sets a good precedent for how future decisions of such sensitivity and controversy should be handled by the military.

Tillman, a former player for the National Football League, turned down a contract offer in 2002 and joined the Army. He was killed in a friendly fire incident in 2004 in Afghanistan, an event the Pentagon at first said was the result of a confrontation with the enemy.

In the weeks that followed his death, the terrible truth about how Tillman died was revealed. Even more tragic was the military's delay in releasing the correct information, a move that was apparently done to save face but ultimately lead to a violation of trust with the American people.

The case surround Tillman's death is still unraveling. On July 27, the Associated Press reported that military documents state, "Army medical examiners were suspicious about the close proximity of the three bullet holes in Pat Tillman's forehead and tried without success to get authorities to investigate whether the former NFL player's death amounted to a crime." The distance was estimated to be approximately 10 yards away. Some of Tillman's family members have alleged he was murdered.

Regardless of how he died, Pat Tillman is a patriot who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service to his country. Our country would benefit if more citizens showed the type of selflessness and bravery that Tillman exemplified.

What we don't need are heroes who are trumpeted under false pretenses or whose stories are delayed or manipulated to fit a personal, protectionist or political agenda. People who carry out those actions are far from heroes.