Tillman Timeline
1994Graduates from Leland High School in San Jose, Calif., and takes football scholarship at Arizona State University.
1997
A linebacker at ASU, named PAC-10 defensive player of the year.
1998
Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals and begins pro career.
Sept. 11, 2001
Terrorists attack World Trade Center and Pentagon, prompting Tillman to reject a $3.6 million contract with the Cardinals to join the war on terrorism.
2002
June: Tillman and his brother, Kevin, enlist and become Army Rangers.
2003
March: Brothers take part in Iraq invasion.
2004
Tillmans are assigned to fight Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
April 22: Killed near Manah, eastern Afghanistan. Army claims he was shot by Taliban insurgents during a firefight.
April 23: Ranger commanders learn the battle was friendly fire. Soldiers burn Tillman's body armor.
April 26: By this date, 14 witness statements to Army investigators verify that Tillman was a fratricide victim.
April 30: Awarded posthumous Silver Star for combat valor. Army provides fictional account of combat.
May 3: Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee is told how Tillman died.
May 3: Memorial service features Sen. John McCain, Maria Shriver and former college and NFL teammate Jake Plummer. Military withholds information on friendly fire.
May 8: First investigation finds gross negligence by fellow soldiers. A second probe is launched.
May 29: The Arizona Republic reports that Tillman was killed by fellow soldiers.
June: Second investigative report confirms friendly fire, but softens initial criticism of soldiers.
Nov.: First investigator claims witnesses were allowed to alter statements.
Dec. 5: A Washington Post series says death resulted from poor communications, command mistakes and soldier negligence.
Dec. 6: Los Angeles Times reports soldiers panicked over a land mine and that there were no insurgents present.
Dec. 7: Army announces a new investigation.
2005
April 14: Army completes third investigation but refuses to divulge findings.
May 28: Tillman's father accuses the Army of conducting "sham" investigations and falsifying testimony.
June 9: Army denies any cover-up; acknowledges "procedural misjudgments and mistakes" in death and probe.
2006
March: Army orders criminal investigation.
Aug.: Defense Department launches a review of the Army investigation.
2007
March 26: Office of Inspector General releases findings of 18-month probe.
