Norm Cota had to make a lot of tough calls. On D-Day, he brought his men across the beach that became known as “Bloody Omaha.” Five months later, he led his exhausted division into the devastating battle of the Huertgen Forest.

But the most difficult call of his career concerned Pvt. Eddie Slovik. Court-martialed for desertion, Slovik was sentenced to death. It was up to Coda, his commander, to review that sentence.