Quote:
Originally posted by Nightwing:
In wartime, the maximum penalty is death. More than 21,000 soldiers were convicted of desertion in World War II, and 49 sentenced to death. But only Pvt. Eddie Slovak was actually executed, by firing squad in January 1945. No soldier has been executed for desertion since.
Sentences in peacetime range from life in prison at hard labor to a dishonorable discharge.
It hasn't been determined which category would apply to Jenkins, who was accused of desertion after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.
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AWOL is just that, absent without leave.
Desertion is leaving, while knowing you are not coming back.
It isn't the issue of whether it happened in war or peace time which decides desertion vs AWOL. War or peace time determines the level of punishment for the crime.