Cowardice in battle

[Vietcong]

is thear any thing wrong with men shoting thear own troops that run from battle, surrender with out orders for a very high athority( the gen, who get it from the main leader of the nation) or show acats of cawardry? (such as hideing , whil thear comrads are fighting and geting killed) if u ask me, troops with out orders to surender shold ether

a. fight to the death or

b. kill them selfs if thear is no hope to win, if u dont whant to fight to the death.

 

[CivCube]

If they didn't want to fight in the first place, they can do what the hell they want to do.

 

[cgannon64]

They should be punished, yes, but not shot.

 

[bobgote]

it's wrong to run from battle etc. and for such acts of cowardice, they would face charges, but shooting them in the act is going too far.

 

[Speedo]

Let the cowards run. If they show their face again court martial them for cowardice. Same with deserters.

I'm not sure about the US military positions on the issue (maybe it's addressed in the UCMJ) but IMO once a unit has lost contact with HQ the burden of deciding if/when to surrender falls on the ranking officer/NCO. If the unit no longer has a chain of command, the decision must be made by each individual.

Troops forced to fight to the death are not highly motivated.

 

[Zarn]

Originally posted by bobgote
it's wrong to run from battle etc. and for such acts of cowardice, they would face charges, but shooting them in the act is going too far.

Agreed.

Cowardance should not be acceptable, but killing them isn't acceptable, either.

 

[Vietcong]

yes it is, thear traiters to the homeland, the ppl of that land, the leader of that land, and his brothers in arms...

thus shoting him whold be the only punishment that he or she is deserveing of, ether that or slave labor.

 

[CivCube]

But what if it is an unjust war? What if the homeland is being ruled by a foreigner?

 

[Speedo]

yes it is, thear traiters to the homeland, the ppl of that land, the leader of that land, and his brothers in arms...

Great. Then you won't have a problem presenting evidence to find them guilty at the court martial. Then take 'em to the firing squad or let 'em rot in Leavenworth.

 

[Vietcong]

if its being rulled by a forieng party, or a forgin man, then it shold be permited, but the hole army shold do it, not just one, and if that one dosnt whant to fight in that war, bue all others are, then he shold kill him self in honor

 

[Mrogreturns]

Well, fighting to the death is all very nice, but it's something that people have to have a passion for, an inner urge if you will. It probably isn't the sort of spirit that you can readily engineer.

I suppose what you could do is to treat your enemy in such a horrible way that you ensure they will show no mercy to any of your own men that they capture. I understand, for example, that soldiers of the SS weren't exactly super keen to surender to the Soviets.

 

[Vietcong]

Originally posted by Speedo


Great. Then you won't have a problem presenting evidence to find them guilty at the court martial. Then take 'em to the firing squad or let 'em rot in Leavenworth.

like i siad, thats to good for them. and by shot, i mean shot on the spot, as in haveing men with guns behind them DUREING the battle, whos job is to make sure thay do not run.

 

[Zarn]

That's sick and uncivilized. I don't care if the man is hides in the corner sucking his thumb. You don't stick a gun to his head. He isn't the enemy. He's just a worthless bum. That's all. It's not like the guy decided to fight for the other side.

 

[Vietcong]

by not fighting he is helping the enamy, and is the enamy. but he dose have a choce to fights or not, ether fight, or die. if he fights, he might have a chance to live.

 

[Zarn]

He isn't helping the enemy. He just isn't hurting the enemy.

 

[Vietcong]

still he is a trator to the ppl

 

[Zarn]

He's isn't a traitor. He is a coward. Some people think they can fight and then can't. It's not like the person wants the other side to win. Only then is that person a traitor.

 

[cgannon64]

Saying what and what is not worthy of death is so ridiculously subjective that we should just not kill anyone to play it safe.

What you say is worth death, I say is worth a dishonorable discharge.

 

[Archer 007]

I would agree if they were volunteers to punish them for runnong, however, I wouldnt hold drafties to the same standards.

 

[bobgote]

Originally posted by Vietcong
like i siad, thats to good for them. and by shot, i mean shot on the spot, as in haveing men with guns behind them DUREING the battle, whos job is to make sure thay do not run.

you are going to have the most resentful army in history. You are officially acknowledging that you understand people would WANT to run away. a better answer is indoctrinating your people/soldiers with honour in battle and the ideals of their homeland.