Sailor Torpedoes Career over Abortion Issue     12/17/1996 A petty officer in the U.S. Navy was discharged after announcing that he could not work for an ”immoral and corrupt“ government ”whose policies support abortion...“ Given a ”general discharge“ on November 25, 1996, the sailor says he now plans to get involved in pro-life advocacy. Petty Officer 3rd Class William J. Downes was assigned to the chaplain's office at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He says he struggled for much of his three year tour, over abortion and the military's stand on the issue. On October 15, the sailor decided he had enough and arrived at work out of uniform, refusing to perform his duties. ”The action I have taken resolves the conflict I have between serving this government and serving God,“ he wrote to Capt. Peter G. Roberts, commanding officer at the naval station at Annapolis, in an October 28 letter. ”In my oath of enlistment, I promised under God, to support and defend the Constitution. I firmly believe that the 14th Amendment, which states that 'no person may be deprived of life...without due process' should properly apply to pre-born persons.“ After receiving the October 28 letter from Petty Officer Downes, Capt. Roberts wrote to Adm. Charles Larson, the superintendent of the Naval Academy, on November 5. Capt. Roberts concluded that it was ”appropriate“ to discharge Petty Officer Downes ”based on misconduct, due to the commission of a serious offense.“ Capt. Roberts stated that the petty officer's ”espoused views do not insulate him from the consequences associated with his actions.“ According to Petty Officer Downes, the captain accused him of ”dereliction of duty“ and not obeying ”lawful regulations and orders.“ Adm. Larson denied Petty Officer Downes' original request for an honorable discharge. Downes then asked for a court-martial so he would be given the chance to defend his actions, but that too was rejected. According to Petty Officer Downes, his ”general discharge“ is ”less than an honorable discharge“ but will avoid any serious damage that can result from a dishonorable discharge. The married father of two small boys, Petty Officer Downes said, ”I believe I deserved an honorable discharge, since I served admirably and in good faith until I discovered the government was not acting in good faith...“ The sailor cited the Senate's September 26 failure to override the veto of the ban on partial-birth abortion the event that ignited his resistance. Downes charged that ”all three branches of government are aligned against the right to life.“