FYI

In the First Marine Division in Vietnam during 1968-69 (the height of Marine Corps involvement in Vietnam), fewer than a dozen Marines were tried for desertion; the Third Marine Division rate was even less (a Marine Division in combat exceeded 25,000 strength).
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"In 1968 I tried three Marines who deserted from Khe Sanh at the height of the siege. They made their way to Saigon, where they became part of a 50-man (3 Marine, 47 Army) blackmarket ring dealing in postal money orders. All 50 were deserters. I tried the three Marines before general courts-martial and gained sentences in excess of ten years for each. Although the soldiers were susceptible to the same charges, they were allowed to plead guilty to lesser offenses before special courts-martial or accept administrative separation because of the shortage of Army judge advocates. Figures alone simply do not convey a complete picture."

Statistics versus Actuality in Vietnam
Lieutenant Colonel W. Hays Parks, USMCR

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1981/may-jun/parks.htm

I hope that everyone takes the time to read the article refered to in the previous post. It is a little long, and dry even, but very interesting overall.