desertion

military

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

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Desertion in a military context refers to the act of abandoning one's post or duty without permission. This is often categorized as being "absent without leave" (AWOL). Soldiers found guilty of desertion can face imprisonment. The term "AWOL" itself is an acronym derived from "absent without leave" and was first used in 1891.123

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Vietnam War
De-escalation, negotiation, and Vietnamization
…Vietnam received dishonourable discharges for desertion (though only a small number of desertions actually took place on the battlefield). Another 10,000 deserters were still at large when the United States withdrew from the war in 1973; most of these took advantage of clemency programs offered under Pres. Gerald R. Ford…
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…Vietnam received dishonourable discharges for desertion (though only a small number of desertions actually took place on the battlefield). Another 10,000 deserters were still at large when the United States withdrew from the war in 1973; most of these took advantage of clemency programs offered under Pres. Gerald R. Ford…
Read More