US Army gave wrong information on soldier deaths

WASHINGTON - The US Army gave wrong information to the families of seven dead soldiers about the circumstances of those deaths, the Army said, amid a review of combat fatalities.

More than 800 deaths have been reviewed out of more than 2000 soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army said.

The review process started a year ago after media reports of inaccuracies and mistakes in death notifications, including the case of Army Ranger and former professional football star Pat Tillman.

The Army first told Tillman's family he was killed by enemy fire. He was shot by fellow soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Arata, spokesman for the Army's human resources command, said the seven cases in which families were given incorrect information involved five well-publicised deaths, including Tillman's.

Arata would not discuss details of the other two cases because families were still being briefed.

Arata said misrepresentation about the deaths was due to initial confusion from the battlefield and sometimes an effort by fellow soldiers to withhold information that might be seen as negative.

"They're simply trying to protect the family by holding something back," Arata said.

- REUTERS