tˈɪli wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn væŋkˈuːvɚ, wˈɑːʃɪŋtən, ˌɔn dᵻsˈɛmbɚ θɹˈiː, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ˈeɪt ænd ɛnlˈɪstᵻd ɪnðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts ˈɑːɹmi ˈʌndɚ ðə "bˈʌdi pɹˈoʊɡɹæm" wɪð hɪz fɹˈɛnd bˈɑːɹni bˈɔɪkɪn.
Tilley was born in Vancouver, Washington, on December 3, 1948 and enlisted in the United States Army under the "Buddy Program" with his friend Barney Boykin.