Private Eddie Slovik was a soldier in the United States Army during World War II. He is best known for being the only American soldier executed for desertion since the Civil War. Slovik was drafted in 1944 and, after experiencing the horrors of combat, he chose to flee rather than fight. In January 1945, Slovik was captured after attempting to desert his unit. He was court-martialed and sentenced to death, a decision that was controversial and highlighted the harsh penalties for desertion during wartime. His execution took place on January 31, 1945, in France.