Debbie, he was already in the Marines when he became an SDA. He did know about his obligations when he re-enlisted, of course. But he didn't realize the SDA church's stand on carrying weapons until after he re-enlisted, according to his attorneys. That's when he notified the Marines that he didn't want to carry a gun any more, and sought conscientious objector status.
There's some explanation of all this at
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/dickerson7e_20050107.htm Even a secular author sees the lack of logic in the Marine Corps' actions.
I do agree that it would be better for SDAs not to be in the military at all if they can help it.
NARLA has sent out an address where people can send donations to help his family while he's incarcerated:
Klimkewicz Fund
c/o Karen Park, Treasurer
104 Ocean Spray Drive
Swansboro, NC 28584
While Cpl. Klimkewicz (now demoted to Pvt.) is locked up, he won't be getting any pay, so his family won't be getting any income from him either.
quote:
[SDA General Counsel Mitchell Tyner] says he believes that Klimkewicz should be released from prison and given a general discharge so that he can return to his wife - a Japanese native who speaks limited English - and 3-year-old child, who no longer have his salary to support them.
link to story at Winston-Salem Journal