Does Bergdahl deserve to be punished? Navy SEAL shares dramatic attempt to save Bowe Bergdahl.

2015-09-12T05:28:07-04:00

When Navy SEAL Jimmy Hatch first heard of the captured Bowe Bergdahl, he thought to himself, "Somebody's going to get killed looking for this kid -- killed or hurt." He was right.

There are two videos on this page, I encourage you to watch both of them and then provide your feedback, your thoughts. Was the cost of lives and injuries worth it to go after him? and was it worth it to trade five enemy combatants for him?

When the two helicopters touched down during a rescue attempt shortly after Bergdahl vanished, the team immediately came under heavy fire. With a dog named Remco -- who ended up being shot -- they advanced. But Hatch was eventually shot right above his knee, and the helicopters had to be called back in to extract the wounded SEAL.

"I took a lot of that on myself. I felt like maybe if I had done things just a little differently -- not gotten hurt -- you know, the mission wouldn't have failed," Hatch said. "There's no way to know that. At the time, it was a failure to me and I was the cause of it."

Was the cost of lives and injuries worth it to go after him? and was it worth it to trade five enemy combatants for him?

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/11/politics/navy-seal-bowe-bergdahl-anderson-cooper/index.html

Navy SEAL shares dramatic attempt to save Bowe Bergdahl - CNNPolitics.com

When Navy SEAL Jimmy Hatch first heard of the captured Bowe Bergdahl, he thought to himself, "Somebody's going to get killed looking for this kid -- killed or hurt."

Response by MSgt C Madd made Sep 12 at 2015 8:04 AM

2015-09-12T08:04:01-04:00

Yes he deserves to be punished, and deserves a traitors fate. The cost of the lives lost or injured was not worth this POS. Definitely not worth trading 5 Gitmo Taliban leaders. Worst part was Susan Rice trying to justify this move saying the POS served with honor and distinction. Should have been charger with treason, and the murders of the lost servicemen.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2015 9:34 AM

2015-09-12T09:34:29-04:00

I think he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. It has been shown that the accuracy of attacks increased a few weeks after he left. Too many lives were lost going after a deserter and then we gave up five main players and its been reported that three are already back on the battle field.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 12 at 2015 9:37 AM

2015-09-12T09:37:40-04:00

CSM Michael J. Uhlig I think that Bergdahl needs to stand trial for his own misconduct and if he is found guilty he needs to be punished for his own crimes. He should not be punished for the loss of life and wounds/injuries of those who were attempting to rescue him. The armed forces of the USA do not leave a man or woman behind and will go to great lengths to rescue the living and bring back the dead even long after the war has ended or stopped. Our efforts to bring back our own are a good thing and nobody who is being searched for should be punished for events occurrring during the search

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Sep 12 at 2015 9:51 AM

2015-09-12T09:51:30-04:00

I do not have enough of the facts to really know how to answer. I know what I have heard, and I do not like it but I have learned that what we hear and what is fact is often far a part. I do not think he can be blamed for what happened after he was no longer in US control?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2015 10:25 AM

2015-09-12T10:25:01-04:00

See you in hell, Bergdahl. And I'll spit in your face when I do.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-09-12T11:10:24-04:00

Hypothetically speaking CSM Michael J. Uhlig If I believe you are taken hostage and I come in to get you out and and become injured or killed in the process and we later learn you were a willing participant with the captor. Yes....but the question is, Can you be charged for it? Probably not. That means those seeking justice have to look for the charge they CAN prove and carries the greatest amount of punishment.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 12 at 2015 11:54 AM

2015-09-12T11:54:49-04:00

Yes he does he caused the death of some of his fellow soldiers due to his actions

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Sep 12 at 2015 12:04 PM

2015-09-12T12:04:38-04:00

There were also a lot of my buddies who suffered while out looking for this piece of trash! Prison is where he needs to spend the rest of his life!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2015 12:46 PM

2015-09-12T12:46:44-04:00

To answer the main question directly, yes he deserves to be punished if the crimes he is accused of are proven in a court. As for the sub-question, was it worth it to risk injuries or lives in an attempt to rescue a missing Soldier, the answer is yes. Without having concrete facts of why/how he left in those early days, it is our obligation to leave no Soldier behind. As for the sub-question on trading 5 enemy combatants for Bergdahl, the answer is a resounding NO. If a private is worth 5 enemy, how much more can they get for a senior NCO or officer? Now, terrorists know we are willing to "negotiate" for prisoner swaps and they will now target senior military personnel, since we must be more "valuable".

Response by SN Greg Wright made Sep 12 at 2015 1:06 PM

2015-09-12T13:06:21-04:00

CSM Michael J. Uhlig CSM, I am (resprectfully) scratching my head as to why you even asked this question. The facts are clear in this case, and I don't think you'll find a serving or former military person on the planet that will say he doesn't deserve to be punished.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 12 at 2015 4:25 PM

2015-09-12T16:25:33-04:00

This case The US Army vs Sergeant Bergdahl will be troubling for me to watch. So I will reserve judging this soldier until I learn more about the charges and his defense. What really bothers me is he already served five years in prison and was treated poorly by al Qaeda. So I am not sure he should serve more time in prison if found guilty. My old gut tells me he will work out a plea agreement and avoid prison but he given a dishonorable discharge ..And hope we never hear about him again .

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2015 8:20 PM

2015-09-12T20:20:11-04:00

Fact is they would not be going forward with Court Martial proceedings if there weren't enough evidence to show that Bergdahl abandoned his post and endanger countless others with his actions.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 14 at 2015 10:24 AM

2015-09-14T10:24:52-04:00

If he is found guilty in a Court martial, then, absolutely. What he is alleged to have done is reprehensible and he should be punished for it, if found guilty.

My opinion, from what I read and seen in news reports, is that he should be found guilty and I have faith in the Military Justice System that he will receive a fair trial. I just hope that the Administration stays out of it and allow the system to work the way it is intended to.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Sep 14 at 2015 11:46 AM

2015-09-14T11:46:28-04:00

CSM Michael J. Uhlig I've heard some many different facts and stories on the matter. It's hard to tell what he did and didn't do, but if he did indeed throw down his equipment and desert his unit and was enjoying him time with the enemy, then he should be tried as a war time deserter, along with being held accountable for those who made the sacrifice to regain his supposed freedom! That's my opinion on the matter!

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 14 at 2015 12:41 PM

2015-09-14T12:41:16-04:00

I agree with never leaving any of our own behind, there has to be efforts made to recover everyone living or dead and I think we do a great job of that, even though we have not gotten everyone, we do try.
As far as swapping 5 for 1, that was totally beyond insane. Even if your not of the military mind set and have no military experience something swapping 5 enemy combatant leaders for 1 low ranking individual, who by all accounts deserted, something should click mentally to tell you this is not a good deal.
Bergdahl deserved to be brought home but not at he expense that was paid. 1 for 1 is acceptable but a 5 for 1? Never in a million years.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 6:09 PM

2015-09-14T18:09:44-04:00

If Bergdahl does not get punished, we no longer have "orders".. and that term need to be replaced by "suggestions". And also Integrity needs to be removed as a value... perhaps Duty as well.

Response by SGT Theodis Young made Sep 14 at 2015 6:47 PM

2015-09-14T18:47:38-04:00

Yes he deserve to be punished. ..I also wish they would let me punish him. Lives was lost and he walked away on his on free will. Life in a Military jail would be too easy.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Oct 12 at 2015 12:52 PM

2015-10-12T12:52:22-04:00

He should be Punished and too the FULLEST extent!

Response by SPC Brandon Hamilton made Mar 29 at 2016 4:53 PM

2016-03-29T16:53:54-04:00

He should get life in Leavenworth, KS.