Stephen Fung, 21, enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 2002 specializing in assisting helicopters land. When called for duty to Iraq, Funk went on Unauthorized Absence (UA) early this year, but has always intended to turn himself in. On April 1, 2003, Funk held a press conference in front of his San Jose, California Marine Reserve surrounded by family and supporters, declaring his conscientious objection to war, before turning himself over to the U.S. military authorities He said: "I refuse to kill. It is scary to confront the military, because the military teaches you to submit to orders even when you object. I may not be a hero, but I know that it takes courage to disobey. I know that it demands courage to say "no" in the face of coercion." Stephen Funk is scheduled to face a military court-martial in New Orleans on September 4 for desertion. Funk is a son of Irish father and Filipino mother. According to World Journal, he has one-fourth of Chinese blood. (Source: Tommi Avicolli Mecca, San Francisco Bay Guardian. July 23, 2003; World Journal, August 11, 2003).