Newly found faith lands Marine in jail

[Walt Starr]

Newly found faith lands Marine in jail
Friday, December 31, 2004
DARRYL Q. TUCKER
THE SAGINAW NEWS
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- U.S. Marine Cpl. Joel D. Klimkewicz says he's willing to clear land mines and risk his life for his country.

He's just not willing to pick up a gun.

Because of his new-found religious faith, the Birch Run native is spending his holidays behind bars as a conscientious objector, convicted by military superiors who see him as a disobedient soldier.

"I couldn't see Jesus Christ taking human life," said Klimkewicz in a phone interview from the Camp LeJeune military prison. "In my faith, what I believe is that we're all citizens of heaven. Citizens of heaven are of all nations, and I refuse to take a life of a fellow citizen of heaven."

This month, a Marine Corps court sentenced 24-year-old Klimkewicz -- a combat engineer who is a member of a Seventh-day Adventist Church -- to seven months behind bars for refusing an order to pick up a weapon for training. He received a reduction in rank to private and a bad conduct discharge.

<snip>

http://www.mlive.com/news/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news-13/110450641421070.xml

Okay, this man is a true Christian and I have the utmost respect for him. Notice too, he's willing to go into combat and clear land mines, a job which requires you not carry a gun. His life would have been at more risk than most in Iraq, but the war machine didn't see things that way.

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. I'd rather spend seven months behind bars

Then get killed in Iraq

[Viva_La_Revolution]

26. I would spend 7 months behind bars....

to not have to KILL in Iraq, whether I came home or not.:(

[InvisibleBallots]

2. Damn Fundies! Arrg!

oh wait, whoops! :)

[w4rma]

7. Yup. He's not a fundie. He's just a regular Christian. (nt)

[InvisibleBallots]

22. 7th-Day Adventist? Yep - he's a fundie

Seventh Day Adventists are one of the most fundamentalist churches in the US.

[cornermouse]

23. Fundamentalist organizations see the 7th Day Adventists

on the same level as the Devil and I'm not joking.

Edit: I didn't say I thought he was, but I did grow up in a fundamentalist organization and they really do see 7th Day Adventists in that light.

[jdj]

24. You can't be a christian with values like that.

Imagine embracing "non-violence"...immoral!

[w4rma]

33. See post #22 (which is also a reply to you).

Ignore post #24, from jdj, which is sarcasm.

[bemildred]

3. Not too many IEDs in jail. nt

[0007]

35. It is "Bad Conduct" when a paid assassin lays down his gun?

Bring the troops home immediately!

[asjr]

4. The new slogan for Marine recruitment should be

Join the Marines and get screwed!

[indigobusiness]

5. My respect for this guy

knows no bounds.

[ET Awful]

6. Wow, someone who actually comprehended the teachings of Christ

and lives by them instead of perverting them and using them as an excuse to maim, slaughter and destroy.

It ain't gonna make me thump a bible, but I'll give big kudos to this guy for actually following the teachings instead of adjusting them to suit his needs.

[Rose Siding]

8. How will the "Christian" generals explain this persecution?

How will the godly Chimperor explain?

Prayers, thanks and best wishes for U.S. Marine Cpl. Joel D. Klimkewicz!

[Supersedeas]

38. his courage ought to be saluted

[VegasWolf]

9. Hell, if I was over there, I'd become a "christian" too.n/t

[Misunderestimator]

10. Now THAT's the kind of Christian I appreciate.

[Florida_Geek]

11. Gee he has read and understands the 10 Commandants

unlike *

[TahitiNut]

14. Even more likely that he read the Beatitudes ...

... and the "good news" - teachings that're often overlooked by the "Old Testament Christians."

[acmavm]

12. I'm a soooo happy that this guy only getting seven months behind bars,

being busted to private, and a bad conduct discharge. With this administration, I'm worried that someday it could be much worse.

This reminds me of something:

<snip>

The record shows that Eddie didn't so much run from the Army as refuse to go to the front lines. His explanation was that he was so nervous that he was afraid he would do something to put his comrades at risk.


"The man didn't refuse to serve," said Calka. "He refused to kill."

<snip>
http://www.freep.com/voices/columnists/erdz27_20010527.htm

[dddem]

18. first time I ever saw Martin Sheen in a movie

and still the only movie that ever made me cry... "The Execution of Private Slovik".

That's the kind of Christian I was raised to be.
I tried to explain to my kids that any church had no business taking sides in this election when you have one candidate who is pro-choice vs. a candidate who is pro capital punishment and pro war.

I hope there are more men like him - "Onward Christian Soldiers" just took on a new meaning.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Damned fool ... picks a god with no fire and brimstone and no

cordite

[Maraya1969]

15. He sounds more realistic

"I couldn't see Jesus Christ taking human life," said Klimkewicz in a phone interview from the Camp LeJeune military prison. "In my faith, what I believe is that we're all citizens of heaven. Citizens of heaven are of all nations, and I refuse to take a life of a fellow citizen of heaven."


Not all Christians think they have the only seats in Heaven. This guy sounds more realistic in his approach to religion than evangelicals.

[Rose Siding]

19. The USMC calls this 'bad conduct'

"He received a reduction in rank to private and a bad conduct discharge."

[dkofos]

16. It would have been easier to just blow his commander.

[jonnyblitz]

17. Its interesting how some people's faith leads them to this way

of thinking (:thumbsup:) and others it leads to essentially the GOP platform. :crazy:

[peterh]

20. I guess in their motto…god country corps…

God takes a back seat from time to time or more accurately….whose vision of gods will has more standing….a private’s or a judging officer panel…..

Though the church’s stance on Iraq is one of a quick peace….me thinks the church would have opted for him to pick up that gun….

http://www.adventistreview.org/2003-1512/iraq3.html

Churches should not only be known for spiritual contributions -- though these are foundational -- but also for their support of quality of life, and in this connection peacemaking is essential. We appeal to Christians and people of good will all around the world to take an active role in making and sustaining peace, thus being part of the solution rather than part of the problem.*

As we pray and work for peace to prevail, we also recognize - and declare - that the only true peace will come when that blessed hope of Christ's return to Earth is a reality. May that day come soon, and may that hope shine brightly even in these dark hours.

[melnjones]

21. wow...

My family was full of consciencious objectors (amish and mennonite family). Why is it ok to object BEFORE you join the forces, but you can't change your mind? Not fair... It's not like he was trying to get out of danger's way, either...just didn't want to carry a gun. My prayers are with him.

[nashville_brook]

25. see... christians ARE being persecuted

it's just not what they want you to think

[annabanana]

27. I don't think this is what they had in mind.........

"Happy Holidays"
NO! AAArrrgh!
:crazy:

[Just Me]

37. The ones who walk the walk,...instead of being persecutory,...

,...and hate-filled and prejudice and destructive.

*sigh*

[Chicago Democrat]

28. They should have let him do something else.

There has to be a million non combat tasks he could do.



Life in wartime SUCKS!

[Torque67]

39. Unfortunately, it is the USMC

There are plenty of non-front line jobs in the Marine Corps, but every Marine is a rifleman first. All Marines, regardless of assigned positions and tasks must qualify and requalify as riflemen.

Hopefully there can be some resolution to get this fellow out of the brig, and back home.

[Horse with no Name]

29. My brother is a marine

And he has told me stories of men in his shop who "all of the sudden" found God after meeting with a "preacher" for an evening.
They bring their bibles to work and quote scripture...and threaten to "cast out" anyone who believes differently than they do.
He was really worried about this...and I just told him that next time they said they were gonna cast him out...that he should tell them that he smite them first,lol.
Seriously though...my belief is that its a group of marines who are trying to obtain conscientious objector status and has nothing to do with God.

[daleo]

30. It may seem like fortunate timing

But it is not entirely surprising that some people might start to understand Christ's teaching about non-violence better when they have seen a war zone. Perhaps some state-side Iraqi war enthusiasts could be prevailed upon to trade places with this fellow. It would be win-win.

My dad was an Engineer (WWII). From the stories I heard, clearing land mines is plenty dangerous.

[NYC]

31. He's willing to clear landmines.

What more could anyone want?

[Tacos al Carbon]

40. He says he's willing to clear landmines

Whether he's sincere or not is anyone's guess and I'm sure that he knows perfectly well that even marines who clear landmines must carry weapons and may be called upon to use them so he was never in any danger of being put into the unarmed non-violent mine clearing brigade. Maybe he's sincere. Maybe he's a coward.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

32. Who would Jesus bomb?

Who would Jesus hate?
Who would Jesus punch out
at the Pearly Gate?

[Swamp Rat]

34. EXACTLY!!!

[Massachusetts]

36. Praise Gee Sus

:evilfrown: O8) :evilgrin: