Check this story out about the marine deserter..
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6791676/

One part says that desertion in time of war is punishable by death. I'm kind of surprised by that. It seems sort of archaic. Like something from the Civil War, not nowadays. Not to say the death penalty is wrong in that case, but I was still suprised by it. Then again, was this war ever offically declared by congress? I feel stupid for not knowing for sure, but for some reason, I have it in mind that it was never officially declared a war.
just bored at work, as you can tell....

 

Yeah, a deserter is punishable by death, but you can kill someone and get out in 20 years. Go figure.

 

2 crimes are punishable by death: murder and treason. Desertion is considered treason