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Desertion facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
The Defector by Octav Băncilă 1906
The Defector, by Octav Băncilă, 1906

Desertion is a military word which means a soldier has left his position without permission. The soldier does not plan on returning. The term Absence Without Leave (AWOL) can also be used, but is usually used where the soldier does intend to return. Usually a soldier who has been AWOL for more than 30 days is listed as a deserter. Deserting is treated as a serious offence. In the US military, the punishment for desertion can be the death penalty. The last US soldier executed for desertion was Eddie Slovik in 1945. No U.S. soldier has been given more than 18 months in prison for desertion during the Iraq War.

Images for kids

  • Репин. Дезертир

    Deserteur (Дезертир), by Ilya Repin, 1917

  • Armenian soldiers with deserters cph.3c32320

    Armenian soldiers in 1919, with deserters as prisoners

  • Convoy of Deserters - Paris

    "Convoy of Deserters - Paris" in the book "Cassell's History of the War between France and Germany. 1870-1871"

  • " A Black Mark for the Squad. A.W.O.L." - NARA - 512701

    A United States wartime poster deprecating absence

  • The execution of a deserter in the Federal Camp, Alexandria, Wellcome V0041826

    The execution of a U.S. deserter in the Federal Camp, Alexandria

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Deserción para niños

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