Edward Donald Slovik (February 18, 1920 – January 31, 1945)

On this day, Pvt. Eddie Slovik becomes the first American soldier
since the Civil War to be executed for desertion-and the only one
who suffered such a fate during World War II.

Although over 21,000 American soldiers were given varying
sentences for desertion during the war, including 49 death
sentences, Slovik’s death sentence was the only one that was
carried out.