Soldier Speaks Up A Decade After Pat Tillman's Friendly

Pat Tillman, the former professional football player turned Army Ranger, was killed by friendly fire 10 years ago today in Afghanistan.

The military initially informed Tillman's family that he was killed by the Taliban. It wasn't until later that the Tillman family, and the rest of the country, learned the truth.

Jon Krakauer, who spent years researching Tillman for his book, "Where Men Win Glory," told ABC News in 2009 that Tillman was 120 feet away from fellow American soldiers in Afghanistan in the final moments of his life.

"[It's] the difference between second base and home plate, and they are just unloading on these guys," Krakauer said. "Tillman throws a smoke grenade to try and indicate they're friendlies -- no good, they're shot and killed. And that's what happened."

It’s been 10 years since former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman was killed in action by friendly fire while serving as an Army Ranger. Details of Tillman’s death are still emerging, as those involved in the tragedy spoke with ESPN’s Outside the Lines. Tillman and an allied Afghan soldier, Sayed Farhad, were shot and killed a decade ago after Farhad was misidentified as an enemy combatant. A group of Army Rangers opened fire on Tillman, Farhad and fellow Ranger Bryan O’Neal. When the firing subsided, only O’Neal survived. When news first broke of Tillman’s death, it was reported the 27-year-old was killed in a firefight with the enemy. Years later, however, the truth surrounding Tillman’s death emerged resulting in an investigation of the cover-up. The details of the disputed incident are now becoming more clear. O’Neal and Steven Elliot, one of the shooters who fired in Tillman’s direction, spoke with ESPN on the 10-year anniversary of Tillman’s death.