Actually, Dr. Jones was born in Texas. He studied to become a Baptist minister and then left the Baptist church to sutdy under a Rabbi on the East Coast. His bio (http://www.vendyljones.org.il/vendyl.htm) covers a lot of studies and teaching in the US, with digs in Isreal, but nothing about changing citizenship or military service.
BTW-The articles with the Aug 14 date, they were misquoting Dr. Jones. There is a correction of those statements on Dr. Jones website at http://www.vendyljones.org.il/, and more info on the dig at http://www.vendyljones.org.il/Excavations.htm.
Personally, I am not sure it is time for the Ark to be found. However, Dr. Jones has found the other items that the copper scrolls report to have been hidden along with the Ark. May be another Capone's Vault, but I will definitely be checking the progress.
I know Vendyl personally, and have been to his home near Ft. Worth. He says the late Lubavitcher Rebbe disuaded him from converting to Judaism, telling him he would have more influence as a 'Noahide'.
And I know several of the rabbis with whom Vendyl has studied or consulted, both in the US and in Israel. And I also personally know several of the other ex-Christian ministers who studied with Vendyl when they were trying to reconcile the Torah with the New Testament.
Vendyl used to deny his connection to Indiana Jones, but he's gotten older and the story has been endlessly repeated anyway, and now he seems to acknowledge a connection.
There are many personal witnesses to the improbable circumstances in his life.