Posted on Sep 18, 2015
Investigating General Recommends Against Jailtime for Bergdahl. What do you think?
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Essentially, General Dahl's investigation found that Bergdahl was attempting to reach a larger US outpost to report things that he perceived to be problems and had an over-inflated view of his own ability to pull it off.
Based on the bits of the old reports I've read and some of the other stuff, I actually think this is a plausible defense. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out in court anyway.
TSgt Hunter Logan SFC James Sczymanski , LTC Bink Romanick , SGT Ben Keen , Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS , SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" , SFC Joseph James , CPT (Join to see), COL Mikel J. Burroughs , MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Based on the bits of the old reports I've read and some of the other stuff, I actually think this is a plausible defense. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out in court anyway.
TSgt Hunter Logan SFC James Sczymanski , LTC Bink Romanick , SGT Ben Keen , Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS , SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" , SFC Joseph James , CPT (Join to see), COL Mikel J. Burroughs , MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Posted in these groups: 
Bergdahl
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
Desertion
Court Martial
Bergdahl Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan Desertion Court Martial
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 74
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I can imagine little which should influence a General Officer into making such a statement. "Does not deserve jail sentence," yes sir you are correct. For desertion in the face of the enemy, he deserves a firing squad. US Service Members died looking for this deserter. Have we forgotten that? Please pardon my outrage, but I am taken aback by the politicized nature of this General Officers bloviating.
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So, he should be exempt from punishment because he had "idealistic views" on the world? I'm sorry, did he not desert his post? Was he not an NCO & in a position of authority when he did this? Did he not cause the death of others when they went looking for him? HIS actions caused this. Therefore he should suffer the consequence of HIS actions. There is no exemption because his worldview was 'idealistic'.
Should Charles Manson have his sentence commuted because he had an 'idealistic view' of the world?
Should Charles Manson have his sentence commuted because he had an 'idealistic view' of the world?
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SGT (Join to see)
He was not an NCO... he walked away from his unit as a PFC. Only in his absence have he been promoted. Bergdahl needs to get his rank and all benefits taken away from him. Then he needs to be made sure that he can never benefit financially from any and all book-deals that they are sure to give him.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Thank you for the info SGT (Join to see). My brain was railing on this article & was only recalling all the media mention of his name w/ the rank of SGT in front of it.
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I personally know GEN Dahl. He was my Battalion Commander in Hawaii when I was with 2/11FA. He is fair and impartial. As much as we want to condemn this soldier we don't know all the facts. He does. I'll wait and see what is the outcome.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
Thanks! It's way too easy to politicize this but forget that's character assassination. It's entirely possible that the general did his job well and reached an unpopular decision. I would hope everyone here would expect and even want him to have the courage to do the right thing even if they don't like his conclusion.
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LTC Trent Klug
I don't know him, and don't really care but I'm wondering if a third star was dangled out there. After all, there are elected officials who have concerns about their legacies and there are reports that three of the detainees traded for him are now commanders for ISIS.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
LTC Trent Klug - I would say it's okay to wonder but an entirely different matter to straight up declare it so as some are. Too much ignorance, emotion and partisanship required to get there for those of us getting all our info from the media.
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LTC Trent Klug
SGT Jeremiah B. - That may be true, however, the things you listed are also elements used by the media as well.
One doesn't have to be ignorant to see that there may be a definitive attempt to save face by a very high elected official and unfortunately there are those who link their careers to ensuring that official doesn't fall flat into the mud.
Supposedly bad leadership has never been an excuse for desertion. And I totally understand the emotion shown by soldiers toward Bergdahl and "the deal".
One doesn't have to be ignorant to see that there may be a definitive attempt to save face by a very high elected official and unfortunately there are those who link their careers to ensuring that official doesn't fall flat into the mud.
Supposedly bad leadership has never been an excuse for desertion. And I totally understand the emotion shown by soldiers toward Bergdahl and "the deal".
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This changes things from Desertion to Unauthorized Absence (which we already knew), and really makes the Misconduct charge harder to argue for the prosecution.
Based on the General's comments regarding SGT Bergdahl's state of mind at the time, this really does show he was "mentally unfit."
Based on the General's comments regarding SGT Bergdahl's state of mind at the time, this really does show he was "mentally unfit."
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SGT Jeremiah B.
We already knew he was a mental case and should never have been allowed to enlist to begin with. It'll be interesting to see how all of this comes into play with the defense.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SGT Jeremiah B. It's hard to use as a defense, but it can be used with other things to identify "contributing factors."
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Please, someone remind me how many soldiers died (and/or were injured) while searching for this clown? Hopefully, MajGen Dahl will submit his resignation --and take a visit to those who went into harm's way for this sh**bird! Face-Palming at my laptop!
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1SG (Join to see)
Six Soldiers were killed while directly or indirectly searching for Bergdahl, sir.
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Capt Mark Strobl
1SG (Join to see), Well, There's six funerals that I hope that MajGen Dahl personally attended. Sorry to have to ask for those stats. But, thanks for the answer.
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If SGT Bergdahl had something to report at a higher level, there is other ways of doing it instead of risking his life by leaving his post and risking the lives of others. But I'm sure there are something going on mentally with him, I hope the Army look at all angles before coming to a final decision.
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I wonder what is he smoking? Really does he really understand how many people lost their lives looking for this person?
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SGT (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see), For some reason that part of his desertion keeps being overlooked. It's like this POS is more important than the six that died looking for this scumbag. I've been concerned ever since he was turned over to the military that somehow, this bastard was going to get out of this. He's ruined many lives and he might skate out of this. If he stays in the Army, he's dead meat. I wouldn't want to serve with him.
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CPT (Join to see)
This is where I say lets bring back that ole' fashion wall to wall counseling! Did you see anything ? I didn't see anything! I don't know how he became a bloody mess??? Nope didn't see a thing...He tripped I think.....?
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If the Coast Guard throws you out for being a whack job why in the hell did the Army Recruit Him?
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SGT (Join to see)
This is a good question... but back in 2008 we still sucked in almost anyone into the warmachine with a waiver.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
Sgt Kelli Mays - Bergdahl was kicked out of the CG for mental health reasons. He was then waivered into the Army a year later. That's why the general's findings are neither suspicious or surprising. The kid was unfit for service.
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