POOR EDDIE SLOVIK; HAD HIS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BEEN OBAMA, HE’D BEEN CITED FOR SERVING WITH “HONOR AND DISTINCTION”*
Edward Donald Slovik was executed by firing squad on January 31, 1945.
He was the last American soldier to be executed for the crime of desertion.
In the 72 years since, Private Slovik’s fate has been a point of controversy for various reasons. The basic, pertinent fact of his case, however, is that Slovik did desert, under fire, his unit during WWII. He admitted to the charge and said that he would do so again if given a chance. General Dwight Eisenhower signed off on the penalty. One account of Pvt. Slovik’s case is presented below
It was, indeed, a different time, and under its own unique circumstances, and cannot be easily, if at all, assessed by today’s standards and social and cultural attitudes.
However, the objective facts of Pvt. Slovik’s offense and punishment, I believe, can be fairly compared. Many would argue that Bowe Bergdahl’s behavior and the circumstances of his treatment, both in captivity and by the US military following his release are more serious and more detrimental to our armed forces, to our national security, and to the larger national character than Pvt. Slovik’s.
At least I would so argue.
Each American can reach his/her own conclusion. (continued below)
Wouldn’t you love to know Col. Jeffery R. Nance’s background. He sounds to me like the “perfect” Barack Obama military officer (that ain’t a compliment.)
“At the sentencing hearing, the military judge, Col. Jeffery R. Nance of the Army…entered the courtroom, read the verdict, and left shortly after. Colonel Nance did not explain the reasoning for the sentence that he imposed.”
“The sentence, which also includes a dishonorable discharge, was quickly condemned by President Donald Trump as a “complete and total disgrace.” In the coming months, the final act of the legal drama will play out when Bergdahl’s lawyers take his case to a military appeals court to argue that Trump’s fiery views of the case merit further concessions — and possibly dismissal of the entire case.
“The punitive discharge means the case will automatically be appealed to a higher military court. And a top commander will also review the case and consider arguments for leniency, as is standard in Army legal cases.”
Bowe was fined $10,000 as part of his guilty plea. The big question for me is, did he get and can he keep the $350,000 (minus $10,000 of course)? DLH
From July 14, 2014 Daily News report:
- Bowe Bergdahl could receive $350,000 tax-free when he returns to active duty with US Army today with ‘desk job
- Sgt. Bergdahl will resume his military duties at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio
Bergdahl will have ‘an office job within the headquarters,’ Col. Scott Bleichwehl said - He will also have sponsor to help with assimilating
- Bergdahl may also receive $350,000 from the US government without paying taxes
- $200,000 worth of that money would be from wages earned during his captivity and $150,000 if he is found to have been a prisoner of war
- Bergdahl will continue to attend debriefing sessions with his superiors
- Comes days after photo of Bergdahl posing with Taliban official posted to Twitter
Bergdahl posed with Badruddin Haqqani, who died in a drone strike in 2012
Adenda:
Pvt Eddie Slovik
Original name: Edward Donald Slovik
Birth: Feb. 18, 1920
Detroit Wayne County Michigan, USA
Death: Jan. 31, 1945
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. Departement du Haut-Rhin Alsace, France
World War II United States Army Soldier. He was the last United States Solider to be executed for desertion, and the only soldier to be executed for this crime during World War II. He was a member of Company G, 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, and had deserted them in late October 1944, right after he had joined the division as a replacement from the United States. The division had just finished leaving the Battle of the Hurtengen Forest, where it had taken heavy casualties. Slovik had twice confessed to deserting, in writing, and stated that if given the opportunity he would desert again. He believed that he would only spend a few years in jail, which he would accept to avoid combat. However, he was given the death penalty. On 31 January 1945, Eddie Slovik was executed by firing squad near the village of Ste-Marie aux Mines for the crime of desertion. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, ordered the execution during the closing days of the Battle of the Bulge, in order to deter other potential deserters. Slovik was court-martialed for desertion under fire and sentenced to death by firing squad. He was buried in France, in a reserved section of the American cemetery with 94 American soldiers executed for the crimes of rape and murder. Slovik’s remains were returned to Michigan in 1987. Many presidents have been petitioned but no pardon has ever been granted. Forty-two years after Slovik’s execution, his remains were reburied next to his wife, Antoinette.
Related article:
Thorough recitation of the implications of the Bergdahl punishment by columnist and retired Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters:
