Customer Reviews

Desertion And the American Soldier: 1776-2006

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This book provides much needed discussion on what has always been a heated political/emotional issue - desertion from the military. While desertion has commonly been attributed to cowardice and lack of moral character, Robert Fantina thoughtfully discusses the larger issues, physical and emotional, that would compel a soldier to go AWOL. Some causes that stand out include: substandard supplies and lodging, inferior leadership, and personal disagreement with how the war is being conducted. Causes that are less obvious to the public,but no less deadly, include mistreatment of the soldier by the military itself.

Fantina documents the causes of desertion in each of the major conflicts through US history. Included are extracts from letters of soldiers who chose to desert, and details of the subsequent treatment of these men and women. These stories are not included in our general history texts; and as such, an important face of war, namely the cost to our soldiers, is never fully discussed.

This book brings a needed human face to a popular, but politically driven caricature Understanding the causes of desertion, is not an easy thing to come to grips with. But if we are to better understand the situation of all our soldiers past and present, we must look beyond the propaganda and see the nitty gritty details of their lives.

I know this book was coming and looked forward to it with great anticipation. Fortunaley I was not disappointed.
I knew little of nor had considered desertion from any military. Fantina offers some well thought out insights into what, beyond the reasons the powers that be give, my motivate someone to leave military service. Fantina does it by chronicling all the major wars of the US military.
The book is quick and to the point. The writing on what could be a very dry topic is not dry but quite an accessable read.
If he wrote the book to get the reader to think about the military and its role in a democratic society Fantina succeeded.