Demotion Expected for Role in Tillman Case

WASHINGTON, July 26 (AP) — Army Secretary Pete Geren is expected to recommend demoting a retired three-star general for his role in providing misleading information to investigators about the death of Cpl. Pat Tillman from American fire in Afghanistan, military officials say.

The retired officer, Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger Jr., headed the Army Special Operations Command at the time of Corporal Tillman’s death, and is one of seven high-ranking Army officers expected to receive official reprimands for critical errors in reporting the circumstances of the death of Corporal Tillman, an Army Ranger, in April 2004.

The Army said it had not made final decisions, and the officials who discussed the case requested anonymity because the punishments under consideration by Mr. Geren have not been made public. The Army plans an announcement next week.

The death of Corporal Tillman received worldwide attention because he had walked away from a huge contract with the Arizona Cardinals professional football team to enlist in the Army after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Mr. Geren is also considering a letter of censure to General Kensinger, the military officials say.

If Mr. Geren does recommend to Defense Secretary Robert Gates that General Kensinger lose a star and be demoted to major general, that would lower his retirement benefits. As an example, a lieutenant general retiring in 2006 would earn about $9,400 a month, while a major general would get about $8,500 a month.