Combat Veterans know this. In many combat situations and battles as much as 25% of the casualties are related to friendly fire. Soldiers that fought along side those that were blown apart by our munitions have always "covered up" these incidents to spare the family of their comrades the pain of knowing the truth that someone screwed up “in the fog of war”. War Is Hell! 

These brave men felt a sense of duty to those KIA. Is it right that they lied and told the boy's mother or sweetheart that he died serving his country while fighting the enemy? I don't know, but I would say it is not criminal and in most cases honorable. Tillman was a celebrity and the cover-up went higher than just his buddies’ knowing the truth...that is all.

Would they feel better if they knew their boy stuck his head up where and when he should not have? War is hell not a football game. There are no do over’s…thank God!