The most cited criticism of Stan McChrystal, according to Jon Krakauer who best represents Marie the widow, is the handling of the Silver Star. There was discussion within the family, at the time, whether or not to refuse the honor. The decision fell to Marie.

IMHO, if one accepts such a medal, one also accepts the procedure in which it was awarded. The criticism then becomes disingenuous.

Pat would be the first to say he deserves no honors greater than his brothers-in-arms also fallen. His football fame gave the family platform. Mom, Mary, used that to point out the deceit regularly practiced by the Bush administration & the Pentagon in particular. Her book, “Boots on the Ground Before Dusk” is the definative report of the family’s investigation into Pat’s death. Krakauer deosn’t even come close.

Pat would approve of this story even though he was only one of some 4,000+ also sacrificed whose stories will never be told.

Thanks for the comment.

I’m sorry if you felt I was close minded, I would say it was nothing more than self-confessed ignorance to the cultural importance of Pat Tillman’s story, simply because I live in England and this wasn’t reported on at all over here. That was what I was trying to explain, especially in the context of writing a review of a film on a subject matter I previously knew nothing about, something which was the main draw of the film for me.

Were I close minded I may have chosen to give this a miss on that basis, but as I’m interested in documentaries on any subject I went to see this and am really glad I did. I’m sorry this didn’t come across in the review.

The single best introduction to the story is Sports Illustrated’s 9-11-06 cover story “Remember My Name”
I’ve placed a link to that article & others in my document “Remember the Iconoclast, Not the Icon” at
http://www.feralfirefighter.blogspot.com

In his book, “Where Men Win Glory,” Jon Krakauer blamed the Bush administration and the Army for the whitewash of Pat Tillman’s death. However, the cover-up has actually been a thoroughly bipartisan affair.

In particular, the Democratic Congress and the Obama Presidency have protected General Stanley McChrystal from scrutiny and punishment for his central role in the handling of the aftermath of Pat Tillman’s friendly-fire death.

I’ve posted several documents at http://www.feralfirefighter.blogspot.com that focus especially on the actions taken by Senator James Webb, the New York Times Pentagon Reporter Thom Shanker, and the think-tank Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Fellow Andrew Exum to protect General Stanley McChrystal.