An Army Ranger who was with Colonel Patrick Tillman when Tillman was killed by members of his own unit in Afghanistan has revealed he was ordered to keep quiet about what happened. Specialist Bryan O’Neal’s testimony came during a congressional hearing on false information from the Pentagon. Under questioning from House Oversight Committee Chair Henry Waxman, O’Neal spoke about orders to not tell Tillman’s brother Kevin, who was also serving in Afghanistan.

Specialist Bryan O’Neal: “I wanted right off the bat to let the family know what had happened, especially Kevin, because I worked with him in the platoon. And I knew that him and the family needed to know what had happened. And I was quite appalled that when I was actually able to speak with Kevin, I was ordered not to tell him what happened.”

Rep. Henry Waxman: “You were ordered not to tell him?”

O’Neal: “Roger that, sir. At that time it was by our battalion commander, Lt. Col. Bailey.”

Rep. Waxman: “And did he give you a reason or just an order?”

O’Neal: “He basically just said, 'Do not let Kevin know. He is probably in a bad place, knowing his brother is dead.' And he made it known that I would get in trouble, sir, if I spoke with Kevin on it being fratricide.”