Reply #42: What I think

[jmowreader]

Rangers are strong men. They work out often, they pride themselves on having "max" Army Physical Fitness Test scores, they're just tough motherfuckers. A Ranger could put a hastily-fired three-round burst into a two-inch circle, no problem.

What Rangers DON'T do during training is firefights with live ammunition. At most they use the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System training aid, which is basically laser tag. If your harness goes off, you take the key out of your rifle, stick it in your harness and get razzed by your squadmates for five minutes after the exercise. The enemy doesn't use MILES--they use live rounds that kill people. You get hit in combat, your buddies stick you in a rubber bag and the president doesn't go to your funeral.

So here's what I think: they went out on patrol and made contact. Tillman was over here being a leader, moving around, giving directions and encouraging his men like infantry leaders have always done. Someone in a different area saw him over there, got the idea he was one of the bad guys approaching from their flanks, and started spraying rounds in Tillman's direction. Eventually he got hit.

The real story is all the shit that went on AFTER he died--the uniform/diary burning, the three million different tales, Bush exploiting Tillman's death for political points...