Private Eddie Slovik/Merged

We all remember or have heard of him, right? So many articles written and even a movie about him being the first and only US Army soldier to be executed (WW11) since the civil war. This does not justify that fact, if you believe it was unjust, but it does offer some insight into his character. There were 40,000 soldiers who deserted in WW11, 49 were sentanced to death, he was the only one who was executed. The city of Detroit is going thru old arrest records, thowing out very old ones, saving newer ones, and those of notorious criminals, moving them to another storage place. Six years before his execution he was arrested for stealing a car and the prior year arrested for embezzlemnt. His rap sheet dates from when he was 12 years old, when he started breaking into homes. Hmmm.

Don't know if that one is on the save list.

His story is one of the "system" getting ahead of it self. Had Eisenhower had pondered his decision to let the sentence go forth, he might well have commuted his sentence. What I've read is that his execution was a big morale hit, because a lot of the soldiers felt "there but for the Grace of God, go I".

A couple of things to keep in mind.

1. Slovik was given several (I believe at least three) opportunities to walk away from the whole problem, All he had to do was take the same risk that the other 16,000,000 men and women in the US Forces were doing. Pick up a rifle and report to his company. He chose not to. Ultimately he ran up against the immovable object in the person of General Eisenhower whose eye was on the big picture.


I don't think anyone particulary wanted to execute Slovik or was thrilled at the prospect.

Regards,

Jim

Sorry, wrong place.

Had they not sentenced Slovik to death, there might have been many more 'letter writers' willing to serve prison time instead of front line time.

My understanding is that Ike did 'ponder' the sentance and gave the go-ahead. All death sentances probably would have had to go him.

Guys, believe it or not, I served in the regiment that Slovik did (albeit a little later). Slovik was in the 109th Infantry, 28th Division. The unit was, and still is, part of the PA National Guard and is based in Scranton. It started off WW2 as all NG then replacements were brought in as in every other unit.

I actually got to see his paperwork. In Iraq we used to tell the troops not to forget that we were the last unit to convene a firing squad and weren't afraid to do it again! (jokingly)

Slovik had, while he was "deserted", served with other units that were not infantry and from all accounts served well with those units. He did not refuse to serve, he just didn't want to go back to the infantry (can't say I blame him, how many of you got shot at and thought, "Yep, this was a good idea!" - I know I didn't.) NOw I understand what can be said like he signed up, he should serve where he was assigned, but realize that at the time he was drafted they were getting near the bottom of the barrel and someone like Slovik would not have been drafted earlier (Eddie wasn't the brightest bulb on the tree, but he was breathing and could ambulate). My own impression is that rather than have him either dead or in prison, he could have been sent to a unit where he could have been useful. I do understand the argument that if this was done, more men would want out, but I also understand that tens of thousands of deserters were walking around Europe doing nothing also. I don't think this one guy getting out of line duty would have led to a mass exodus if you already knew all you had to do was walk away.

From the movie point of view, he was willing to serve as a cook but how accurate is the movie. A firing squad is a bit much. Personally, Ike shoulda had Gen. Patton slap him. A live soldier accomplishes more than a dead one.

So many soldiers had self-inflicted wounds to get outa combat. They weren't put before a US firing squad. I wonder if Ike regretted his decision to execute Eddie.

Slovik never really served with the 109th or any one else. He and a friend bailed while in transit to his assignment to "G" company. He hooked up with a Canadian MP outfit and basically spent about a month with them doing various chores before they ran him up to his company.

By the time his court martial had been conducted and the sentence handed down the 28th had been bloodied badly in both the Hurtgen Forest and then the Bulge taking thousands of casualties in each battle.

Its true that some of the people he encountered said he was great guy who would do anything for you..except his duty.

"An Army at Dawn", about Ike and the North African campaing.

Had Ike been, what he became, then the Axis would have been wiped up earlier.
Only after getting "cut-throat", and weeding out the incompetents, did the Allies kicked butt.

Most striking is the contempt on UK & US side for each other and the uncertainty of the French loyalty.