Today is the anniversary of the execution of the only man condemned since the Civil War for desertion. It is perhaps a good time to remember that there are nine men on U.S. Military death row today.
On Jan. 31, 1945, Hamtramck-born Eddie Slovik was executed by a firing squad near the French village of Ste-Marie aux Mines for the crime of desertion. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme allied commander, personally ordered the execution during the closing days of World War II to deter other potential deserters.
During World War II, some 21,049 American military personnel were convicted of desertion, with 49 sentenced to death, but only Pvt. Slovik paid the ultimate price. In fact, he was the only American soldier to be executed for desertion since the American Civil War.
(source: Detroit News)
1 comment:
if i were a member of the 28th infantry, i would have, with permission of course, shot him myself.
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