DATA-DOG challenged, " How many of us would stand up for our ideals like he did?"
How ill-informed are you?
Prior to 1973 there was a military c onscription in the USA, commonly called "the Draft." Since 1948 all men, ages 18 to 26, were requred to register, and then it was up to each individual to petition his local draft board for exemption. ALL Jehovah's Witnesses were expected by their religious leaders to take a rigid and uncompromising stand as "conscientious objectors" to military servce, refusing all forms of alternate service (because that would be "compromising" their loyalty to Jehovah by accepting the authority of The State. Taking this position would expose ALL JW men to the possibility of being arrested and sent to a Federal Prison. ALL of the male posters here who were JWs when they turnrd eighteen had to take ths stand, and there are posters here who served tme in Federal Prison because of their closely-held religious beliefs.
IF the 18 year-ols male JW did not follow the WATCHTOWER rules he would be subject to excommunication from the JWs.
So your challenge has been answered.
There is nothing unique about Leopold Engleitner, and as a person who "took a stand," I resent your suggestion that he was some kind of modern Daniel in the Lion's Den. He was a misguided youth who followed the rules of The WATCHTOWER and paid the price for doing so. The WATCHTOWER didn't serve time in prison, Leopold did, and now the WATCHTOWER is happy to show him off as a "man of faith." BALONEY.