A person who abandons a post, duty, or organization, especially a soldier who illegally leaves military service without permission.
From Old French 'deserter,' from Latin 'deserere' (to abandon). The term became prominent during wartime when soldiers abandoning the army faced severe punishment.
During World War I, some countries executed hundreds of deserters for leaving battle, but we now understand many had untreated PTSD and shell shock—a tragic consequence of not recognizing mental health problems!
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