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AWOL in wartime means death sentence. Is this true?

posted 16 years ago by Wolfram-And-Hart
8 replies | jump to latest

In the last episode aired, Rob told Ellie that since he was AWOL in wartime, he'd be sentenced to death. Is this real military policy?

Silence! I kill you!

[–] devlin_grunloh 16 years ago

In short: yes, it is. Any soldier found AWOL (an acronym for "absent without leave") could be accused of either dereliction of duty, desertion, or both of those crimes. They would then face a court-martial (the military justice system version of a grand jury trial) and, if their guilt was proven, they would be put to death. Just as Rob explains, there is a process by which that sentence happens, but it does happen. No one has been put to death for desertion in the United States since 1953 (an army sergeant whose name I forget), but being convicted of "one of the D's" indeed means death.

[–] jpennell-4 16 years ago

Yet another reason why I am not proud to be american.

You only go around life once so you might as well spend it smashed
www.youtube.com/atp88

[–] rrpostal 16 years ago

Really. I can understand the sentiment if they were drafted, which I also would protest, and I can understand being opposed to the death penalty in general. I just don't get the knee jerk "america sucks" bandwagon piling on whilst safe and comfy through other's efforts attitude.

The military is not a job that you can quit. I don't get why that makes you feel ashamed.

[–] DaytonaBob 14 years ago

Nope, The only soldier ever executed for desertion was Private Eddie Slovik and it was pretty well determined that he was being used as an example as thousands of others had been convicted and sent to prison.

Eisenhower signed the death warrant and Slovik was floored as he figured he would spend his time in prison like all the other deserters.

He was executed by a firing squad of 12 with one blank. They didn't do a good job as several bullets went into areas of his body and it took him several minutes to die. So long in fact they reloaded the firing squad except he died before they could shoot him again.

Barbaric is not strong enough to describe what happened to him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Slovik

They who give up liberty to
obtain a temporary safety deserve
neither liberty or safety

[–] kevintbriner 14 years ago

I doubt it, I think treason is though.

[–] SaudiUtah 14 years ago

Naw he wouldnt be put to death, mostly likely face some prison time and a DD ( dishonorable discharge )

Another reason to feel shame for being an American? Why?

Dude volunteered for service, he gave his word that he would serve his country, that is a contract. You can't go back on your word when it becomes an inconvience for you.

[–] bgeiger-1 14 years ago

You would not face a death sentence for being AWOL. Article 15 would be the punishment and that would be extra duty and restriction to barracks. However, once you pass the 30 day mark of being AWOL your status is changed to deserter and that is where the death penalty applies but very unlikely.

[–] MagentaMSI 12 years ago

Yeah, really. Besides the fact that other countries are way more strict, often without a trial at all, and are extremely cruel and violent about their punishments.
You want a country where the guys protecting it have the right to leave without warning or word at any moment, when they made a commitment? You should be able to walk out on any responsibility at any moment? At least hate the country for our usual impulse for everyone to do just that, not our soldiers.

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