A War Veteran’s Perspective on the Release of Sgt. Bergdahl

When I was in South Vietnam, I developed close bonds with the soldiers with whom I served.  We ate, lived, patrolled and worked together.  In a civilian setting, we might not have become friends, but in a war zone we counted on each other.  We needed to. That’s the way it was in Vietnam and, I’m sure, everywhere and every time soldiers gather in war.

Put yourself in a soldier’s boots.  How would you feel about the fellow soldier with whom you thought you had bonded who deserted you?  What is the opposite of the intense loyalty to one’s fellows that combat generates?  Disloyalty causes intense anger and even hatred.

If you’ve seen the interview with Bergdahl’s former platoon members in Afghanistan, you know what I mean.

Of course, Sgt. Bergdahl’s desertion was not widely known in the United States when President Obama announced last week the captive soldier’s release.

So his declaration in explaining the concurrent freeing of five high ranking Taliban prisoners that “the U.S. does not ever leave our men and women in uniform behind” was unremarkable, if not historically accurate.  [For instance, there were American deserters in North Korea left behind after the 1953 Armistice.]

But the sentiment took on more meaning when details about Bergdahl’s conduct emerged.

If he left his unit voluntarily – deserted – did he not sacrifice his right to be rescued?

Had he changed his mind?  In 2009, when he fell (walked?) into enemy hands, he was twenty-three.  How did we know what his attitude was at twenty-eight?  Some say America’s responsibility to a soldier in captivity is the same whether he be a “hero” or a “heel”.  So the cost of his release (in other words freeing five terrorists) should not be a factor.

Sounds good but it’s nonsense.  Who really believes that a war hero’s life should – or is - valued the same as a traitor’s, or that “any” price is ok?

So why, really, did President Obama grant freedom (subject to a one year travel confinement to Qatar) to five prominent Taliban leaders?

I will give my answer in next week’s blog.