"Tillman decided to give up his career, saying he wanted to fight al Qaeda and help find Osama bin Laden. He spurned the Cardinals’ offer of a three year, $3.6 million contract extension and joined the Army in June 2002."

"His former comrades and family recall Tillman as a born leader yet remarkably humble"

"Interviews also show a side of Pat Tillman not widely known — a fiercely independent thinker who enlisted, fought and died in service to his country yet was critical of President Bush and opposed the war in Iraq, where he served a tour of duty"

FAMILY DEMANDS THE TRUTH / New inquiry may expose events that led to Pat Tillman’s death
Robert Collier, Chronicle Staff Writer
Published 4:00 am, Sunday, September 25, 2005