Bowe Bergdahl: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Short description|Former American soldier, ~~Taliban~~held captive ~~2009~~by ~~to 2014~~Taliban}}

{{Infobox military person

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| birth_name = Beaudry Robert Bergdahl<ref>{{cite web|title=Full Transcript of Bowe Bergdahl Statement|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/305010451/Full-Transcript-of-Bowe-Bergdahl-Statement|access-date=October 30, 2017|page=145|quote="On the birth certificate it's Beaudry Robert Bergdahl."}}</ref>

| branch = {{Army|United States|name=U.S. Army|size=23px}} (2008–2021)<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/americas-last-prisoner-of-war-20120607|last=Hastings|first=Michael|title=America's Last Prisoner of War|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 7, 2012|access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Dickstein2023">{{cite news |last1=Dickstein |first1=Corey |title=Justice Department seeks reinstatement of Bowe Bergdahl's court-martial conviction |url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2023-09-26/bergdahl-army-court-martial-taliban-afghanistan-11502671.html |access-date=16 January 2024 |work=Stars and Stripes |date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927023402/https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2023-09-26/bergdahl-army-court-martial-taliban-afghanistan-11502671.html |archive-date=27 September 2023 |language=en |quote=All this, . . . , and the passage of over two years since the plaintiff became a civilian, . . . Bergdahl’s attorneys wrote.|url-status=live}}</ref> {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon image|Flag of the United States Coast Guard.svg|size=23px}} [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]] (2006, 26 days)<ref name="wpostjune2014"/>}}

| rank = ~~Private (formerly sergeant)~~Sergeant

| unit = Blackfoot Company, 1st [[Battalion]], [[501st Infantry Regiment (United States)|501st Infantry Regiment]], [[4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division]] [[United States Army North]] (Fifth Army)

| commands =

| battles = [[War in Afghanistan (~~2001–14~~2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]{{surrendered}}

}}

'''Beaudry Robert''' "'''Bowe'''" '''Bergdahl''' (born March 28, 1986) is a former [[United States Army]] soldier who was held captive from 2009 to 2014 by the [[Taliban]]-aligned [[Haqqani network]] in [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]].<ref name="HuffingtonPost2009-07-19">{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/19/bowe-bergdahl-soldier-cap_n_239930.html|title=Bowe Bergdahl: Soldier Captured In Afghanistan Identified As 23-Year-Old Idahoan|date=July 19, 2009|author1=Pamela Hess|author2=Lolita Baldur|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=July 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722111201/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/19/bowe-bergdahl-soldier-cap_n_239930.html|archive-date=July 22, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="TheGuardian2009-07-19">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/19/afghanistan-captured-american-soldier-video|title=Taliban release video of captured US soldier|date=July 19, 2009|author=Declan Walsh|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=July 19, 2009|location=London}}</ref><ref name="Cnn2009-07-19">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/19/afghanistan.soldier.hostage|title=U.S. soldier captured by Taliban: 'I'm afraid'|date=July 19, 2009|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-statement-on-sgt-bowe-bergdahl/2014/05/31/1cf3ebc2-e8e1-11e3-a86b-362fd5443d19_story.html|title=Obama statement on Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 31, 2014}}</ref>

Bergdahl was captured after ~~deserting~~leaving his post on June 30, 2009. The circumstances under which Bergdahl went missing and how he was captured by the Taliban have since become subjects of intense media scrutiny. He was released on May 31, 2014, as part of a prisoner exchange for [[Taliban Five|five high ranking Taliban members]] who were being held at the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|detention center at Guantanamo Bay]].

Bergdahl was tried by general [[court-martial]] on charges of [[desertion]] and misbehavior before the enemy,<ref name="referred-court-martial-abc"/> and on October 16, 2017, he entered a [[guilty plea]] before a military judge at [[Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41642168|title=Bowe Bergdahl pleads guilty to desertion|date=October 16, 2017|work=BBC News}}</ref> On November 3, 2017, he was sentenced to be [[Military discharge#Dishonorable discharge (DD)|dishonorably discharged]], reduced in rank to private and fined $1,000 per month from his pay for ten months, with no prison time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/03/politics/bowe-bergdahl-sentenced/index.html|title=Bowe Bergdahl receives dishonorable discharge, avoids jail time|last=Andone|first=Dakin|date=November 3, 2017|work=CNN}}</ref> The fine and reduction in rank took effect immediately, while the discharge was stayed pending appeals to the [[United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals|Army Court of Criminal Appeals]] and later to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces|Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces]], which affirmed the sentence on August 27, 2020.<ref name=CAAFupholds>{{cite news |last1=Hodge Seck |first1=Hope |title=Court Upholds Bowe Bergdahl's Sentence Despite Trump 'Dirty Traitor' Comments |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/08/28/court-upholds-bowe-bergdahls-sentence-despite-trump-dirty-traitor-comments.html |access-date= July 9, 2021 |work=Military.com |publisher=Military Advantage |quote=The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces handed down a decision Thursday on the sentence, which was delivered in 2017 and has already been upheld at the lower appellate level.}}</ref> Bergdahl then filed in the [[United States District Court for the District of Columbia]] to have a U.S. federal judge review his sentence.<ref name=MC20210219 /><ref name=MC20210819 /> On July 25, 2023, the judge issued a ruling that voided his 2017 court-martial conviction.<ref name="Reuters20230725"/>

==Early life and education==

Bergdahl was born in 1986 in [[Sun Valley, Idaho]]. He is of [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]] and [[Swedish people|Swedish]] ancestry.<ref name="RollingStone"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/usa/norskamerikansk-soldat-frigitt-i-afghanistan/a/10131557|title=Norskamerikansk soldat frigitt i Afghanistan|author=Cathrine Ekehaug|work=VG|date=May 31, 2014 |access-date=March 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name="kboi1">{{cite news|url=http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/51336717.html|title=Who is Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl?|publisher=[[KBOI-TV|KBOI]] 2|access-date=May 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116105038/http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/51336717.html|archive-date=January 16, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1394&dat=20070213&id=JAUlAAAAIBAJ&pg=559,2585100|title=Dr. Craig Larson, 73|newspaper=The Warren Tribune|date=February 13, 2007|page=10A}}</ref> He has an older sister.<ref name="RollingStone"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtexpress.com/2000/01-12-00/naval.htm|title=Idaho Mountain Express: Naval Academy is first class for Michael Albrecht|publisher=Mtexpress.com|access-date=May 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216052556/http://mtexpress.com/2000/01-12-00/naval.htm|archive-date=February 16, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://syvnews.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/recent-obituaries/article_10a7d865-3d58-5c17-bf72-82f297d4ced4.html|title=Recent Obituaries|publisher=Syvnews.com|date=February 25, 2007|access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref> Both Bergdahl and his sister were [[Homeschooling|home schooled]] by their mother in [[Hailey, Idaho]]. The family attended Sovereign Redeemer Presbyterian Church, an [[Orthodox Presbyterian Church]].

Bergdahl received a [[General Educational Development|GED]] certificate through the [[College of Southern Idaho]].<ref>{{cite news|agency=AP Photo |author=The Bergdahl Family|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/01/taliban_may_use_bowe_bergdahl.html|title=Taliban may use Bowe Bergdahl, captured Idaho soldier, to push for talks with U.S.|publisher=OregonLive.com|date=January 5, 2012|access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref> As an adult, Bergdahl studied and practiced [[fencing]] and [[martial arts]] before changing to [[ballet]] classes at the Sun Valley Ballet School in [[Ketchum, Idaho]].<ref name="kboi1"/><ref name="nytimes1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/us/bowe-bergdahls-unlikely-journey-to-life-as-a-taliban-prisoner.html|title=Idahoan's Unlikely Journey to Life as a Taliban Prisoner|first=Elisabeth|last=Bumiller|date=May 13, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He spent time in a [[Buddhist monastery]] between 2007 and 2008.<ref name="worldmag1">{{Cite news|last=Dean|first=Jamie|url=https://world.wng.org/2014/06/the_curious_case_of_bowe_bergdahl|title=The curious case of Bowe Bergdahl|newspaper=[[World Magazine]]|date=June 3, 2014|access-date=July 19, 2019|archive-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719142727/https://world.wng.org/2014/06/the_curious_case_of_bowe_bergdahl|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Military career==

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Bergdahl walked away from his battalion on the night of June 30, 2009, at [[observation post]] (OP) Mest near the town of [[Yahya Kheyl]] in [[Paktika Province]].<ref name="NBC"/> Accounts of his capture differ. In a video, Bergdahl said he was captured when he fell behind on a [[patrolling|patrol]].<ref name="HuffingtonPost2009-07-19"/> Taliban sources allege he was ambushed after becoming drunk off base; U.S. military sources deny that claim, stating, "The Taliban are known for lying and what they are claiming [is] not true."<ref name="Cnn2009-07-19"/> A Department of Defense spokesperson said, "I'm glad to see he appears unharmed, but again, this is a Taliban propaganda video. They are exploiting the soldier in violation of [[international law]]."<ref name="HuffingtonPost2009-07-19"/><ref name="TheGuardian2009-07-19"/>

Other sources said Bergdahl walked off base after his shift<ref>{{cite news |url=~~http~~https://www.nbcnews.com/id/~~32007586~~wbna32007586|title=Parents of captured GI plead for privacy|work=NBC News|date=July 20, 2009|access-date=November 14, 2013}}</ref> or that he was grabbed from a [[latrine]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/31/world/meast/afghanistan-bergdahl-aboard-helicopter/ |title=Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl: Flight to freedom |publisher=CNN |date=May 31, 2014 |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> In 2009, the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]] attributed his disappearance to "walking off his base in eastern Afghanistan with three Afghan counterparts and was believed to have been taken prisoner".<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=July 19, 2009 |url=http://archive.news10.net/news/national/story.aspx?storyid=63538 |title=Soldier Held in Afghanistan From Idaho |publisher=News 10 ABC |access-date=June 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606225725/http://archive.news10.net/news/national/story.aspx?storyid=63538 |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

General Nabi Mullakheil of the [[Afghan National Police]] said the capture occurred in [[Paktika Province]].<ref name="HuffingtonPost2009-07-19"/> Other sources say that he was captured by a Taliban group led by Mullah [[Sangeen Zadran]], who moved him to [[Ghazni Province]].<ref name="TheGuardian2009-07-19"/> He was held by the [[Haqqani network]], an insurgent group affiliated with the Taliban, probably somewhere in Pakistan.<ref name="NBC">{{cite news|url=http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/10/11633115-frustrated-dad-of-taliban-prisoner-bowe-bergdahl-takes-matters-into-own-hands?lite|title='Frustrated': Dad of Taliban prisoner Bowe Bergdahl takes matters into own hands|publisher=~~Worldnews.msnbc.msn.com~~[[MSNBC]]|access-date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513083317/http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/10/11633115-frustrated-dad-of-taliban-prisoner-bowe-bergdahl-takes-matters-into-own-hands?lite|archive-date=May 13, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Bergdahl was a [[Private first class#United States|Private First Class]] when captured; he was promoted ''in absentia'' to [[Specialist (rank)|Specialist]] on June 19, 2010, and to [[Sergeant]] on June 17, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14580|title=Press release 14580|work=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref> According to soldiers in Bergdahl's platoon, the morning when Bergdahl was discovered to be missing, his equipment was found neatly stacked, with his compass missing.<ref name="Bethea2014"/>

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On July 18, 2009, the [[Taliban]] released a video showing Bergdahl,<ref name="HuffingtonPost2009-07-19"/> who appeared downcast and frightened. A [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] statement issued the following day confirmed that Bergdahl had been declared "[[missing in action|missing]]/whereabouts unknown" on July{{nbsp}}1 and that his status had been changed to "missing/[[prisoner of war|captured]]" on July 3.<ref name="Usdod2009-07-19">{{Cite news|url=http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=12827|title=DoD Announces Soldier Status as Missing-Captured|date=July 19, 2009|author=United States Department of Defense|publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]]|access-date=December 25, 2009|author-link=United States Department of Defense}}</ref>

In the twenty-eight–minute video, his captors held up his [[dog tags]] to establish that the captured man was Bergdahl.<ref name="HuffingtonPost2009-07-19"/> Bergdahl gave the date as July 14 and mentioned an attack that occurred that day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=~~http~~https://www.cbsnews.com/~~stories~~news/~~2009~~pentagon-ids-soldier-held-by-taliban/~~07/19/world/main5173084.shtml~~|title=Pentagon IDs Soldier Held by Taliban|first=John|last=Miller|date=July 19, 2009|access-date=December 29, 2009|agency=Associated Press|work=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite video|title=Video: U.S. Soldier, Bowie Bergdahl, Captured By Taliban|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NJV1XIRfWs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/3NJV1XIRfWs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|publisher=CNN|access-date=December 29, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/19/afghanistan.soldier.hostage/index.html|title=U.S. soldier captured by Taliban: 'I'm afraid'|publisher=CNN|date=July 19, 2009|access-date=December 29, 2009}}</ref>

On December 25, 2009, five months after Bergdahl's disappearance, the media arm of the Taliban released a video of "a U.S. soldier captured in Afghanistan" entitled "One of Their People Testified".<ref name=King1>{{cite news|last1=King|first1=Laura|title=Bergdahl denounces U.S. effort in Afghanistan in Taliban video|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/afghanistan-pakistan/la-fg-archive-taliban-video-shows-us-soldier-20140531-story.html|access-date=December 21, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 26, 2009}}</ref>

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In June 2010, Bergdahl managed to escape his captors but was recaptured after less than nine days.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://serialpodcast.org/season-two/3/escaping/transcript |title = Episode 03: Escaping – Transcript}}</ref> In August 2010, it was reported that a Taliban commander named [[Haji Nadeem]] had claimed that Bergdahl was helping to train the Taliban in [[improvised explosive device|bomb-making]] and infantry tactics.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.myfoxny.com/dpps/news/taliban%3A-captured-soldier-joined-cause-dpgonc-km-20100822_9290058|title=Taliban: Captured Soldier Joined Cause|publisher=Fox News|date=August 22, 2010|access-date=March 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/06/exclusive-bergdahl-declared-jihad-secret-documents-show|title= Bergdahl declared jihad in captivity, secret documents show|author=James Rosen|work=Fox News|access-date=March 25, 2015|date=2015-03-24}}</ref> The Pentagon dismissed the reports as [[Taliban propaganda]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Zatkulak|first=Karen|url=http://www.ktvb.com/news/Reports-about-captured-Idaho-soldier-not-true-101339234.html|title=NBC: Reports about captured Idaho soldier not true|publisher=Ktvb.com|date=August 23, 2010|access-date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114012811/http://www.ktvb.com/news/Reports-about-captured-Idaho-soldier-not-true-101339234.html|archive-date=November 14, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In June 2013, Bergdahl's parents received a letter from him through the [[Red Cross]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57588087/pow-bowe-bergdahls-parents-receive-letter-from-captive-son|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140531181623/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57588087/pow-bowe-bergdahls-parents-receive-letter-from-captive-son|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 31, 2014|title=POW Bowe Bergdahl's parents receive letter from captive son|work=CBS News|date=June 6, 2013|access-date=November 14, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2014, the United States received another proof-of-life video dated December 14, 2013, in which Bergdahl mentioned the death of [[South Africa]]n former president [[Nelson Mandela]], indicating the video had been recorded after December 5.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/15/22315644-us-has-recent-proof-of-life-video-of-pow-bowe-bergdahl?lite | title=U.S. Has recent 'proof of life' video of POW Bowe Bergdahl}}</ref>

In early 2014, it was suggested in some media that the United States government had attempted to secure the release of Bergdahl by paying a [[ransom]] and that the intermediary had absconded with the money. The Pentagon said no ransom was paid but that a payment had been made for intelligence that led to Bergdahl's release.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kristina Wong|title=GOP lawmaker: US military tried to pay ransom for Bergdahl|url=~~http~~https://thehill.com/policy/defense/223159-gop-lawmaker-us-military-tried-to-pay-intermediary-for-bergdahl/|newspaper=The Hill|date=November 6, 2014|access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>

===Search efforts===

After Bergdahl was confirmed as missing, the Army initiated a [[DUSTWUN]] search to find him. According to soldiers from his platoon, there was an increase in attacks against US forces in Paktika Province following his disappearance.<ref name=Cnn2014-06-01B/> Significant resources were deployed in an effort to find Bergdahl.<ref name="Bethea2014">{{cite news|last=Bethea|first=Nathan Bradley|date=June 2, 2014|title=We Lost Soldiers in the Hunt for Bergdahl, a Guy Who Walked Off in the Dead of Night|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/02/we-lost-soldiers-in-the-hunt-for-bergdahl-a-guy-who-walked-off-in-the-dead-of-night.html|newspaper=Daily Beast|access-date=March 25, 2015}}</ref> Two [[Pashto language|Pashto-language]] leaflets were distributed by the U.S. military in seeking Bergdahl.<ref name="Cnn2009-07-19"/> One showed a smiling GI shaking hands with Afghan children, with a caption that called him a guest in Afghanistan. The other showed a door being broken down and threatened that those holding Bergdahl would be hunted down.<ref name="Cnn2009-07-19"/>

According to soldiers involved in the effort to find Bergdahl, at least six soldiers from his battalion were killed during the search.<ref name=Cnn2014-06-01B/><ref name="Bethea2014"/> Retired general [[Michael Flynn]] also blamed their deaths on the search ~~for him,<ref name=Serial2016-10-16/> but the Army's investigations did not report that any of these men were on a mission to look~~ for him.<ref name=Serial2016-10-16/> National Guard Master Sgt. Mark Allen was on a mission to gather information about Bergdahl from two Afghan villages in July 2009 when his unit was ambushed by insurgents using small arms, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Allen, who was shot in the head, was permanently disabled from the wound, leaving him unable to walk or speak. He died on October 12, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/14/us/mark-allen-dies-soldier-who-searched-for-bowe-bergdahl/index.html|title=Mark Allen, soldier injured in 2009 search for Bowe Bergdahl, dies|author=Jamiel Lynch and Ralph Ellis|website=CNN|date=October 15, 2019|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/master-sgt-mark-allen-dies-10-years-after-being-shot-in-head-while-looking-for-army-deserter |title = Master SGT. Mark Allen dies 10 years after being shot while searching for Army deserter| website=[[Fox News]] |date = October 13, 2019}}</ref>

Officers who served in Afghanistan during that time told CNN that diverting resources to find Bergdahl delayed the closing of [[Combat Outpost Keating]],<ref name=Cnn2014-06-01B/> where eight American soldiers were killed on October 3, 2009, when [[Battle of Kamdesh|300 Taliban insurgents]] overran the base.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/world/asia/06afghan.html|title=U.S. Military Faults Leaders in Attack on Base|last=Nordland|first=Rod|date=February 5, 2010|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 16, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

However, a former senior military officer told ''The New York Times'' that there was no direct evidence that diversion of surveillance aircraft or troops to search for Bergdahl encouraged the Taliban attacks. "This was a dangerous region in Afghanistan in the middle of the 'fighting season'," the officer said, adding that while the search "could have created some opportunities for the enemy [it was] difficult to establish a direct cause and effect."<ref name="sc&s"/>

After a review of the database of Afghan war casualties, ''The New York Times'' editorialized that "Sergeant Bergdahl's critics appear to be blaming him for every American soldier killed in Paktika Province in the four-month period that followed his disappearance."<ref name="sc&s"/>

===Torture in captivity===

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Bergdahl was treated by U.S. military medical staff at an undisclosed base in eastern Afghanistan. He was then transferred to [[Bagram Airfield]] before being flown to [[Landstuhl Regional Medical Center]] in Germany, for medical treatment.<ref>{{cite news |title=US soldier Bowe Bergdahl freed by Taliban in Afghanistan|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27651690|work=31 May 2014|publisher=BBC News|access-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref> On June 13, 2014, he was flown by military plane to San Antonio, Texas, where he was taken to the [[San Antonio Military Medical Center#Brooke Army Medical Center|Brooke Army Medical Center]] to complete his recovery and reintegration.<ref name="BergdahlinUS">{{cite news|title=Pentagon says Bergdahl has arrived in Texas|url=http://www.thesanantonionews.net/index.php/sid/222889431/scat/c08dd24cec417021/ht/Pentagon-says-Bergdahl-has-arrived-in-Texas|access-date=June 13, 2014|publisher=The San Antonio News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701232056/http://www.thesanantonionews.net/index.php/sid/222889431/scat/c08dd24cec417021/ht/Pentagon-says-Bergdahl-has-arrived-in-Texas|archive-date=July 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Taliban detainees – known as the "[[Taliban Five]]"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/taliban-five-arrive-qatar-after-swap-deal-20146113536748321.html|title=Taliban five arrive in Qatar after swap deal|access-date=June 1, 2014|publisher=AlJazeera|date=June 1, 2014}}</ref> – who were transferred from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to custody in [[Doha]], Qatar, are [[Mohammad Fazl]], [[Khairullah Khairkhwa]], [[Abdul Haq Wasiq]], [[Norullah Noori]], and [[Mohammad Nabi Omari]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Howell|first=Kellan|title=Terror suspects freed by Obama admin. were labeled 'high risk' in 2008: report|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/31/terror-suspects-freed-obama-admin-soldier-were-lab/|access-date=May 31, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=May 31, 2014}}</ref> They were the Taliban army chief of staff, a Taliban deputy minister of intelligence, a former Taliban interior minister, and two other senior Taliban figures.<ref>{{cite news|last=Joscelyn|first=Thomas|title=Five of the Most Dangerous Taliban Commanders in U.S. Custody Exchanged for American Captive|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/five-most-dangerous-taliban-commanders-us-custody-released-pow-exchange_794017.html?page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603074332/http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/five-most-dangerous-taliban-commanders-us-custody-released-pow-exchange_794017.html?page=2|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2014|access-date=June 1, 2014|publisher=www.WeeklyStandard.com|date=May 31, 2014}}</ref>

Some Republican members of Congress have said that the prisoner swap that led to Bergdahl's release may have been illegal.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mark Sappenfield |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2014/0601/Obama-s-Bowe-Bergdahl-prisoner-swap-Was-it-illegal |title=Obama's Bowe Bergdahl prisoner swap: Was it illegal? – |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=June 1, 2014 |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> The [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014]] (NDAA) mandates that all prisoner transfers from Guantanamo Bay require 30 days' notice to Congress, which was not done in this case.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bergdahl-release-arrangement-could-threaten-the-safety-of-americans-republicans-say/2014/05/31/35e47a2a-e8ff-11e3-afc6-a1dd9407abcf_print.html |title=Bergdahl release arrangement could threaten the safety of Americans, Republicans say |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 31, 2014 |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> When President [[Barack Obama]] signed the bill, he released a [[signing statement]] saying that the restriction interfered with the president's [[executive power]] as [[commander-in-chief]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/us/politics/obama-signs-defense-bill-with-conditions.html Obama Disputes Limits on Detainee Transfers Imposed in Defense Bill], ''[[The New York Times]]'' (January 1, 2013).</ref>

The White House released a statement acknowledging that the release of the Guantanamo prisoners did not comply with the NDAA provision, but cited the president's signing statement and "unique and exigent circumstances" as justification.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/gop-lawmakers-say-administration-broke-law-prisoner-swap/ |title=GOP lawmakers say administration broke law with prisoner swap | The Rundown | PBS NewsHour |publisher=Pbs.org |date=February 20, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20140602/gop-lawmakers-prisoner-exchange-violated-law |title=GOP lawmakers: Prisoner exchange violated law |publisher=Morningjournal.com |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> One year earlier, [[Jay Carney]] (then-spokesperson for the White House) had assured the press that the decision to free Bergdahl would be made only after consulting Congress, in accordance with said law.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://freebeacon.com/national-security/flashback-carney-said-no-decision-about-transferring-detainees-for-bergdahl-would-happen-without-consulting-congress/ |title= Carney Said No Decision About Transferring Detainees for Bergdahl Would Happen 'Without Consulting Congress' | Washington Free Beacon |publisher=Freebeacon.com |date=June 21, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref>

===Release efforts===

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In August 2014, the [[Government Accountability Office]] published a report stating that the Pentagon broke the law when conducting the prisoner exchange because it failed to notify U.S. Congress in advance, as required by the law.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cassata |first=Donna |date=August 22, 2014 |title=GAO: Pentagon Broke The Law In Bergdahl Swap |url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/goa-pentagon-broke-law-bergdahl |newspaper=Talking Points Memo |agency=Associated Press |access-date=August 22, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Pentagon broke law with Bergdahl prisoner swap, government watchdog says |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/22/pentagon-violated-law-with-bergdahl-prisoner-swap-government-watchdog-says/ |newspaper=Fox News |date=August 22, 2014 |access-date=August 22, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=John |date=August 21, 2014 |title=Guantanamo prisoner transfer for Bowe Bergdahl violated laws, review finds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/08/21/gao-pentagon-broke-law-with-guantanamo-transfer-for-bowe-bergdahl/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=August 22, 2014 }}</ref>

[[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] [[Susan Rice]] appeared on ABC News' ''This Week'' on June 1, 2014, several days after the exchange, saying Bergdahl "served the United States with honor and distinction."<ref>{{cite news |title='This Week' Transcript: Ambassador Susan Rice and Sen. Ted Cruz |url=https://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/week-transcript-ambassador-susan-rice-sen-ted-cruz/story?id=23942676 |access-date=September 13, 2018 |work=ABC News |date=6 July 2014 |language=en}}</ref> Following the announcement that Bergdahl was formally charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, much debate regarding the administration's handling of the negotiations resumed, centered on Rice's comment and then-State Department spokeswoman [[Jen Psaki]]'s statement in late March 2015 that the swap was "absolutely" worth it.<ref>{{cite web |author=Schindler, John R. |url= http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0329-schindler-bergdahl-20150329-story.html |title= Op-Ed: How the White House bungled the Bowe Bergdahl case |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date=March 27, 2015| access-date=April 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Wong, Kristina |url= ~~http~~https://thehill.com/policy/defense/237281-gop-puts-bergdahl-swap-on-trial/ |title= GOP puts Bergdahl swap on trial |newspaper= The Hill |date=March 28, 2015| access-date=April 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Kamisar, Ben |url= ~~http~~https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/236994-state-department-aide-bergdahl-swap-worth-it/ |title= State: Bergdahl swap was 'worth it'|newspaper= The Hill |date=March 25, 2015| access-date=April 1, 2015}}</ref>

In September 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 249 to 163 (with 22 Democrats joining the Republican majority) to pass a [[nonbinding resolution]] condemning President Obama for failing to give Congress thirty days' notice before exchanging Bergdahl.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zengerle|first1=Patricia|title=U.S. House formally condemns Obama for Guantanamo prisoner swap|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-guantanamo-idUSKBN0H42KO20140910|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=September 10, 2014|date=September 10, 2014 |archive-date=September 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910164723/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/10/us-usa-congress-guantanamo-idUSKBN0H42KO20140910|url-status=live}}</ref>

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On June 25, 2014, the U.S. Army stated that there is "no evidence" that Bergdahl "engaged in any misconduct" during his years in captivity.<ref name="wask140625">{{cite news |first=Dion |last=Nissenbaum |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |title=No Evidence of Misconduct by Bergdahl While Captive, Army Says |url=https://www.wsj.com/news/article_email/no-evidence-of-misconduct-by-bergdahl-while-captive-army-says-1403719847-lMyQjAxMTA0MDIwNjEyNDYyWj |date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=July 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223004503/http://www.wsj.com/news/article_email/no-evidence-of-misconduct-by-bergdahl-while-captive-army-says-1403719847-lMyQjAxMTA0MDIwNjEyNDYyWj |archive-date=December 23, 2014 |url-status=dead }} {{cite news |last=Lopez |first=Todd |date=June 25, 2014 |title=Official: Initial Bergdahl Investigation Was Inconclusive |url=http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=122551 |newspaper=Army News Service |publisher=United States Department of Defense |access-date=August 22, 2014 }}</ref> The 2010 Pentagon investigation referred to above dealt with events leading up to his capture. In July 2014, Bergdahl was returned to active duty.<ref name="huffpo140714">{{cite news |agency=[[Reuters]] |work=[[Huffington Post]] |title=Bowe Bergdahl Set To Return To U.S. Army Active Duty |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/14/bowe-bergdahl-army_n_5583975.html |date=July 14, 2014 |access-date=July 15, 2014}}</ref>

In August 2014, it was announced that an investigation headed by [[Major General]] Kenneth Dahl would be conducted.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ybarra |first=Maggie |date=August 19, 2014 |title=Army extends investigation into Bergdahl case |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/19/army-extends-probe-bergdahl/ |newspaper=Washington Times |access-date=August 22, 2014 }} {{cite news |author= |title=Investigation into Bergdahl disappearance extended |url=http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2014/08/16/investigation-into-bergdahl-disappearance-extended.html |newspaper=KSAT |publisher=Graham Holdings |date=August 16, 2014 |access-date=August 22, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120733/http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2014/08/16/investigation-into-bergdahl-disappearance-extended.html |archive-date=August 26, 2014 }} {{cite news |last=Wong |first=Kristina |date=August 17, 2014 |title=Army extends Bergdahl probe |url=~~http~~https://thehill.com/policy/defense/215347-army-extends-bergdahl-probe/ |newspaper=The Hill |publisher=News Communications, Inc. |access-date=August 22, 2014 }}</ref> During the course of Dahl's inquiry, Bergdahl told investigators that he left his position in June 2009 to report on "misconduct in his unit" and that he had intended to return quickly.<ref name=BV20150327>{{cite news|last1=Rogin|first1=Josh|title=Bergdahl's Defense Is He Was Planning to Come Back|url=http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/bergdahl-lawyer-says-he-was-awol-not-a-deserter|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|access-date=March 27, 2015|archive-date=March 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327132314/http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/bergdahl-lawyer-says-he-was-awol-not-a-deserter|url-status=dead}}</ref> During a 59-day investigation, Dahl interviewed 57 witnesses, including Bergdahl.<ref name="Oppel">Robert A. Oppel Jr., [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/us/bowe-bergdahl-should-not-be-imprisoned-army-investigator-says.html Bowe Bergdahl Should Not Be Imprisoned, Army Investigator Says] (September 18, 2015).</ref><ref name="EllisKarimiLett">Ralph Ellis, Faith Karimi & Chris Lett, "[http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/18/politics/bowe-bergdahl-decision/ Bowe Bergdahl investigation leader says GI should not face jail time]", CNN (September 21, 2015).</ref>

According to his lawyer, [[Eugene Fidell]], Bergdahl told him that he "had concerns about certain conditions in the unit and things that happened in the unit and he figured that the only way to get any attention to them would be to get that information to a general officer."<ref name=BV20150327/> Fidell opined that Bergdahl was actually [[Desertion#Desertion versus Absence Without Leave|AWOL]] when he was captured, rather than a deserter.<ref name=BV20150327 />

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Lieutenant Colonel Mark Visger presided over the hearing and made a recommendation on whether Bergdahl should be court-martialed.<ref name="CalamurArticle32"/> In October 2015, Visger "recommended that the charges be referred to a [[Courts-martial in the United States#Special court-martial|special court-martial]] and that a punitive discharge and confinement would be inappropriate given all the circumstances." Visger's recommendation was reviewed by General [[Robert B. Abrams]], the commander of [[United States Army Forces Command]] at [[Fort Bragg|Fort Bragg, North Carolina]], the "[[Convening authority (court-martial)|convening authority]]" in Bergdahl's case.<ref name="Martinez">Luis Martinez, [https://abcnews.go.com/US/officer-bergdahl-hearing-recommends-jail-time-lawyers/story?id=34389608 Officer in Bergdahl Hearing Recommends No Jail Time, His Lawyers Say], ABC News (October 10, 2015).</ref><ref>[[Wade Goodwyn]], [https://www.npr.org/2015/09/19/441775215/the-fate-of-sgt-bowe-bergdahl-now-in-the-hands-of-his-superiors The Fate Of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Now in the Hands of His Superiors], ''All Things Considered'', NPR (September 19, 2015).</ref>

In December 2015, Abrams rejected the recommendation and ordered that Bergdahl face a [[Courts-martial in the United States#General court-martial|general court-martial]] on the two charges.<ref name="referred-court-martial-abc">{{cite news|last1=Martinez|first1=Luis|title=Bowe Bergdahl to Face General Court Martial|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bowe-bergdahl-face-general-court-martial/story?id=35761933|access-date=December 14, 2015|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=December 14, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Bowe Bergdahl to Face Court-Martial on Desertion Charges|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/15/us/bowe-bergdahl-to-face-court-martial-on-desertion-charges.html|access-date = December 14, 2015| first=Richard Jr. | last=Oppel |work = The New York Times|date = December 14, 2015}}</ref> His trial was first set for February 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/bowe-bergdahl-s-fate-will-be-decided-under-newly-elected-president-1.11829899|title=Opinion: Who will decide Bowe Bergdahl's fate|work=newsday.com|date=May 23, 2016 |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref> Regarding these charges, Bergdahl had sought a pardon from President Obama,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tucker|first1=Eric|title=Bergdahl Seeks Pardon From Obama To Avert Desertion Trial|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/bergdahl-seeks-pardon-obama-avert-desertion-trial-43948090|access-date=December 5, 2016|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=December 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204172720/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/bergdahl-seeks-pardon-obama-avert-desertion-trial-43948090|archive-date=December 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> which was not granted.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lamothe|first1=Dan|title=Obama opted not to act on presidential pardon request in Bowe Bergdahl's desertion case|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/01/20/obama-denied-a-presidential-pardon-in-bowe-bergdahls-desertion-case-lawyer-says/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 20, 2017}}</ref>

In 2016, Bergdahl's case was the focus of Season{{nbsp}}2 of the podcast [[Serial (podcast)|''Serial'']].<ref name="Serial: Season Two">{{cite web|url=https://serialpodcast.org|title=Serial: Season Two|website=Serial|access-date=May 27, 2016}}</ref>

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On July 25, 2023, Judge Walton vacated the conviction. The ruling stated that Nance failing to disclose his application for a position at the Justice Department "could create the appearance of potential bias".<ref name="Reuters20230725"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Savage |first=Charlie |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/25/us/politics/bowe-bergdahl-conviction-overturned.html |title=Judge Vacates Bowe Bergdahl's Conviction and Dishonorable Discharge |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 25, 2023 |access-date=July 26, 2023}}</ref>

On May 29, 2024, the Justice Department appealed Judge Walton’s decision to vacate the conviction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kime |first=Patricia |date=2024-06-06 |title=US Appeals Court to Reconsider Dismissal of Former Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's Conviction |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/06/federal-government-appeals-lower-courts-decision-dismiss-bowe-bergdahls-conviction.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Military.com |language=en}}</ref> The case is currently at the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

==Military awards==

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==External links==

* [https://www.vice.com/read/finding-bergdahl-081 Finding Bergdahl] A five-part series on the search for Bergdahl in [[VICE magazine]] by [[Robert Young Pelton]]

* [http://media.ksat.com/document_dev/2015/10/01/Bergdahl%20Article%2032%20Transcript_169534_ver1.0.pdf Transcript of Bergdahl's Article 32 hearing]