Posted on Jun 1, 2014
How does everyone feel about PFC Bergdahl? How does one get meritoriously promoted for being a deserter?
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Bergdahl
POW/MIA
Desertion
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Whether found to be AWOL or not, he is by no means a hero. I do not know enough to determine his guilt or innocence. That is for the Army to decide. In any case, I do not consider him a hero.
There is just too much mystery surrounding this, and I am not just talking about his apparent stroll from his post.
I am finding it more difficult to do, but I am trying to reserve judgement until the investigation is completed. The more I read the stranger the story gets.
There is just too much mystery surrounding this, and I am not just talking about his apparent stroll from his post.
I am finding it more difficult to do, but I am trying to reserve judgement until the investigation is completed. The more I read the stranger the story gets.
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CW2 Joseph Evans
I don't think even his most ardent supporters would consider him a hero... except for the ones that also claim hero status for "Chelsea" Manning and Edward Snowden. But to criminalize him with out understanding the situation or his intent is premature. LTC Allen West continues to be considered a hero by some as does Ollie North, despite findings that they had violated orders, deliberately. Those who call him a hero will continue to do so despite the findings, but all that any of us really want is the truth.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
I totally agree with you sir. It is obvious the court of public opinion is in session and the deliberations are heating up.
It is easy to get caught up in all the emotion and rhetoric. As a journalism student, I am trying to stay objective and reserve my opinions based on the facts. It is not always easy to do.
It is easy to get caught up in all the emotion and rhetoric. As a journalism student, I am trying to stay objective and reserve my opinions based on the facts. It is not always easy to do.
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SSG (Join to see)
I refuse to jump to any real conclusions before everything comes out in regards to how/why he left. That's not my place. However, I will say this: I find it hard to believe that the Taliban held him for 5 years without gaining information in return. We've all seen firsthand the extent of their compassion and mercy. If he wasn't doing something to make them keep his head attached to his shoulders then why did they keep him alive?
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Still innocent until proven guilty. I suggest avoiding a rush to judgement and allow investigators to do their jobs and let the chips fall where they may
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MSG Brad Sand
Sir,
Not saying anything about innocence or quilt but I think this is important as well:
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
Can anyone say we, as a Nation, are safer with this soldier's return? Would we be safer if one of the prisoners was exchanged? Do not get me wrong, I am happy for him and his family...but if I was in his place, I would not want to be trade at such a high cost.
Not saying anything about innocence or quilt but I think this is important as well:
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
Can anyone say we, as a Nation, are safer with this soldier's return? Would we be safer if one of the prisoners was exchanged? Do not get me wrong, I am happy for him and his family...but if I was in his place, I would not want to be trade at such a high cost.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
The president is calling the trade an end of war prisoner swap, which in my opinion hogwash. Another political spin to justify his actions. In my book, he negotiated with terrorists.
As far as the returned soldier is concerned, I have confidence the Army will investigate, and prosecute the soldier for any wrong doing on his part.
As far as the returned soldier is concerned, I have confidence the Army will investigate, and prosecute the soldier for any wrong doing on his part.
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It's politics as usual. I'm only hoping that some how a larger operation is underway to use these 5 to get the core leadership of the Taliban.
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Cpl Ray Fernandez
A Saudi was denied a patent in Germany for a GPS tracking device in 2009 that also had a secondary function of being able to kill a person. Who can say someone didn't buy up that tech.
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Get him home, give him time to recover and then sort this whole mess out.
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SGT (Join to see)
This sites up and down buttons are sensitive. Much like our feelings on this subject. Do the research.
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Until SGT Bowe Bergdahl is back in US custody, what was going through his mind at the time is purely conjecture and opinion. We do not know what caused him to walk off the FOB as his actions were described. Toxic climate, depression, thoughts of suicide by Taliban? Your guess is as good as mine. Regardless, alive or dead, he belongs home, where he can be handled appropriately.
Given the current circumstance of his situation and relations with Afghanistan, I feel a trade to bring him home a reasonable recourse.
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SSG (Join to see)
SFc Wayman, I concur with your comment. We definitely don't know all the facts. I have personnel in my unit who were actually there and have told me some things. I take it with a grain of salt because we truly DON'T know the whole story. You're right too regarding Zimmerman. Whether or not he is or is not guilty, so many people wanted to just kill him right away. That is truly sickening. That is mob anarchy justice. It is NOT true justice.
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1LT Kevin McKernan
Regardless of what one may think of Sgt. Bergdhal, he deserves to be brought home. A full investigation will be conducted of the facts leading up to his capture and if it is determined he deserted, then he needs to face UCMJ action and be court-martialed. On the other hand, I do not agree with the deal President Obama made (trading 5 war criminal Gitmo detainees) with our enemy to secure Bergdahl's release.
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SSG Ted Bentley
so wait let me see if I have this right SFC Marc W. you would let a person that deserted there post to go free and be called a "HERO" I as a retired SM find that a disgrace to the rank and the uniform.....
SSG Fort Hood no is not a mob Anarchy justice it is the red blooded American justice and his so called parents want to help the Taliban so we as Americans should go to Iraq and else where and give them help for what they did to all of us and all my brothers that have died that sickens me....
SSG Fort Hood no is not a mob Anarchy justice it is the red blooded American justice and his so called parents want to help the Taliban so we as Americans should go to Iraq and else where and give them help for what they did to all of us and all my brothers that have died that sickens me....
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1LT Gerald O'Hare
We can never leave anyone behind. To make any exception would open Pandora's box full of bad things later on. Now he is subject to the UCMJ so he should be court marshaled for leaving his post or treason. We should let the UCMJ decide.
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If he was ever on RallyPoint I GUARANTEE he will be bombarded with contact requests. Endorsements may be a little hard to get. And for posting this thread we say, SGT (Join to see) ......
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Well, it looks like that there's already a movie out about this, courtesy of MadMagazine.com, LOL!!!
http://www.madmagazine.com/blog/2014/06/03/barack-obamas-unfortunate-new-movie
http://www.madmagazine.com/blog/2014/06/03/barack-obamas-unfortunate-new-movie
Barack Obama’s Unfortunate New Movie
BOWE AND ARROWS DEPT.
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SGT (Join to see)
There's a gun store west of Houston, that is known for their edgy and provocative signs. They made a sign which states “Will Trade Obama To Mexico For Sgt. Tahmooressi God help us all.”
http://houston.cbslocal.com/2014/06/05/gun-store-sign-will-trade-obama-to-mexico-for-sgt-tahmooressi-god-help-us-all/
http://houston.cbslocal.com/2014/06/05/gun-store-sign-will-trade-obama-to-mexico-for-sgt-tahmooressi-god-help-us-all/
Gun Store Sign: 'Will Trade Obama To Mexico For Sgt. Tahmooressi'
Continuing its critical shots at President Barack Obama, the Tactical Firearms store of Katy, Texas has yet another weekly message for the president: “Will Trade Obama To Mexico For Sgt. Tahmooressi God help us all.”
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I am going to take this one step further. There is no way this individual is or should be considered a hero. From everything I have read about the actions of this individual it is my belief that he did not go AWOL, the manner in which he left his post leads me to the conclusion that he had no intention of returning to his unit. This surpasses the supposition of AWOL and moved directly into the class of desertion. Since the country he was stationed in is a war zone it should be considered desertion in the face of the enemy. This is just my opinion, and I believe that he deserted in the face of the enemy. He will have his day in court, and if found guilty he will receive the punishment he deserves. So much for my .02.
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SSG William Patton
While I agree with your based upon my personal feelings Charles, my background in law enforcement and my belief in the Constitution, tell me that Bergdahl deserves his day in court. Promotions in a situation are automatic so to speak. I know of a PFC who was MIA during Vietnam that was promoted to SFC during his term as an MIA, which still is the case. The Bergdahl case is similar except we have details as to his situation of walking away from his post. Even though he is guilty in the court of public opinion by many, he is still entitled to due process of law to determine his guilt. The travesty will occur if and when the administration chooses to not court martial him for desertion. The administration has already called members of his unit liars because they have refuted the administration's lauding him a hero and they can't have someone disagreeing with their plan.
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Even "IF" he was a victim or "hostage", I refuse to even use the term POW because I think that is a slap in the face to all that have truly been in that position; never, never, never ever should any negotiation with a terrorist organization taken place. Nor would I or anyone I ever served with have wanted that price to be paid for our return. "Selfless Service"
What now for all the Americans who have now been put in harms way? Years and years of not blinking in the face of the enemy, standing tall and proud and showing the world an unyielding determination to deny the enemy this kind of leverage... shot to hell overnight.
I knew people that were there and in nearby units, it was all over the wire in the hours after it occurred and it is a well known fact among those that he did indeed abandon his equipment and post and according to nearby Afghans who were interrogated during the search was in fact searching out an English speaking Tali. And this brings me to the answer of the question that started this thread, How do you get meritoriously promoted while having deserted your comrades in arms and putting them all at risk and directly being responsible for the deaths of many looking for you? To direct the du"masses" from the truth, a smoke screen to draw attention away from the truth. Because the greatest downfall of our great Nation is that the masses will blindly believe the last thing they heard, from anyone!
Someone said he was, "a lost cause.' I'm afraid our Country is not far behind and it sickens me.
What now for all the Americans who have now been put in harms way? Years and years of not blinking in the face of the enemy, standing tall and proud and showing the world an unyielding determination to deny the enemy this kind of leverage... shot to hell overnight.
I knew people that were there and in nearby units, it was all over the wire in the hours after it occurred and it is a well known fact among those that he did indeed abandon his equipment and post and according to nearby Afghans who were interrogated during the search was in fact searching out an English speaking Tali. And this brings me to the answer of the question that started this thread, How do you get meritoriously promoted while having deserted your comrades in arms and putting them all at risk and directly being responsible for the deaths of many looking for you? To direct the du"masses" from the truth, a smoke screen to draw attention away from the truth. Because the greatest downfall of our great Nation is that the masses will blindly believe the last thing they heard, from anyone!
Someone said he was, "a lost cause.' I'm afraid our Country is not far behind and it sickens me.
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Wait for the Article 32 results. Not going to try him by Social Media Mob.
Besides, by all indications from the reporting on the incident I've seen, his unit abandoned him long before he abandoned them.
Besides, by all indications from the reporting on the incident I've seen, his unit abandoned him long before he abandoned them.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
From what I have read, there does seem to be some bad blood there. I try to stay away from what social media is saying and sift out what facts I can find from the media. I agree, let the army do it's investigation.
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MSG Wade Huffman
I agree CW2 Evans. Lets wait for the investigation (although no matter the results of the investigation, I doubt HERO status will be met here). The evidence may SEEM overwhelming at this point based on the media; but the media of late has been as more of the problem than the solution in a number of areas.
It has been very difficult for me to NOT make a judgement call on this case based on the reports we've all been inundated with; but I have learned through time that there are three sides to every story. I just hope that the investigation is honest and thorough.
It has been very difficult for me to NOT make a judgement call on this case based on the reports we've all been inundated with; but I have learned through time that there are three sides to every story. I just hope that the investigation is honest and thorough.
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