The military form of execution is firing squad. I understand that this “honor” was denied Nuremberg defendants convicted of war crimes, so perhaps Vindman has forfeited this right as well. There was, at one time, an Army field manual on hanging. (Strength of rope, length of drop, etc.)
From a 1944 manual (for Vindman, I’d like to be the trigger man):
SECTION III
EXECUTION BY HANGING
Paragraph
Officer Charged with Execution 15
Assembly 16
Execution 17
15. Officer Charged with Execution
The officer charged with the execution will command the escort and make the necessary arrangements for the conduct of the execution. He will—
a. Instruct components of the escort in their duties.
b. Arrange for the receipt of the prisoner by the prisoner guard.
c. Arrange for a chaplain to accompany the prisoner.
d. Arrange for the presence of a medical officer at the scene of the execution.
e. Provide a proper gallows.
f. Provide a black hood to cover the head of the prisoner.
g. Provide a collapse board for use if necessary.
h. Cause the prisoner’s arms to be secured behind his back, before or immediately upon his receipt by the prisoner guard.
i. Arrange for a burial party as prescribed in paragraph 12k.
16. Assembly
a. The band will be formed in accordance with section V, Chapter 2, FM 28-5, will proceed to the exterior door of the place of imprisonment at which the prisoner is to be received by the prisoner guard, and halt near the place of imprisonment, facing in the direction of the scene of the execution. The presence of the band is optional at executions where the presence of troops is not required.
b. The prisoner guard will consist of twelve men armed with rifles, under the command of a sergeant armed with a pistol. The prisoner guard will form in double ranks and at the proper time will proceed to the door to receive the prisoner.
c. The main guard will consist of one or more platoons and will form in the rear of the band.
d. At the designated time the prisoner, with his arms bound securely behind his back, accompanied by the chaplain, will be received by the prisoner guard and placed between the ranks. The escort will then proceed toward the scene of the execution, the band playing the “Dead March.”
e. Upon the arrival of the escort, consisting of the band, prisoner guard, main guard, prisoner and chaplain within the square formed by the witnessing troops before the gallows, the sergeant of the prisoner guard and a sergeant from the main guard will conduct the prisoner to the platform of the gallows, the officer charged with the execution and the chaplain preceding the prisoner.
17. Execution
a. The officer charged with the execution will face the prisoner and read aloud to him the charge, finding, sentence and orders. He will then notify the chaplain and the prisoner that a brief time will be allowed the prisoner for any last statement. After a reasonable time he will have the sergeant from the main guard place the hood over the prisoner’s head and bind his ankles. The sergeant of the execution party will then adjust the noose around the prisoner’s neck. The sergeant of the execution party will then place himself in position at the trigger and, upon a signal from the officer charged with the execution, will spring the trap. The officer charged with the execution and the medical officer will then examine the body for time of death.
b. Upon the pronouncement of the death of the prisoner, the escort, with the band playing a lively air, will return to the parade ground and be dismissed.
c. The witnessing troops will move to their respective areas where they will be dismissed.
d. The officer charged with the execution will direct the burial party in the disposal of the body as prescribed by the commanding officer.
—5—