Posted on Nov 3, 2017
The Bergdahl Sentencing and the Precedent it Sets
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The US Army Values are Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.
Former Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl apparently forgot these when, on June 30, 2009, he deserted his unit in Afghanistan, where he wanted to, in his words, “make the world a better place.” Former SGT Bergdahl also forgot that he was wearing the uniform of the United States Army, and that armies fight wars. He signed up. No one forced him into service, and no one forced him to continue service if at any point he decided he had had enough.
In the Army there are legitimate avenues of redress of grievances, and now more than ever before. Your chain of command, the Chaplain, a JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer, or even the highest commander above where you think your problem lies. SGT Bergdahl had whipped himself into an almost psychotic state of isolation, from his unit, from his battle-buddies and even from himself. In the end, the enemy seemed more desirable than the mess he had made in his foxhole.
The sentencing of SGT (now PV-1) Bergdahl is now complete. Instead of a 14 year sentence, sought by the prosecution, a sentence of time served, a reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay and a dishonorable discharge will have to do.
Although Bergdahl had plead guilty to desertion and misconduct before the enemy, the circumstances under which SGT Bergdahl was released, the trade of five Taliban leaders notwithstanding, has its own implications of treason. Some have said that Bergdahl has suffered enough, including his defense team. Some say he is not fit to live, let alone wear the uniform. Several witnesses have testified about their war injuries and losses they claim happened because of Bergdahl’s desertion. There were rumors but no evidence that SGT Bergdahl had given the enemy critical information about the unit, its operations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). This would allow the enemy to anticipate the unit’s movements and tendencies, potentially deadly information. Some say, while searching for SGT Bergdahl, they were hit and men died. One man, a former Navy SEAL, claimed tearfully that his service dog was killed on one such mission, and others suffered crippling and career ending injuries. All of this was supposedly taken into consideration before the sentence was handed down by the military judge, Col. Jeffery Nance.
In my opinion, all this testimony is over-engineering. It’s all good, but shouldn’t be necessary to complete the project. Bergdahl deserted in a time of war. How do you maintain good order and discipline if you allow folks to just walk away? There is no claim of insanity. There is no plea bargain. There is no excuse. The punishment for desertion can be death.The reason for this goes back to the beginning of human conflict. If you run in the face of the enemy, you have abdicated your responsibility as a member of the group to help keep the group safe.
In our own Revolutionary War and subsequent conflicts, such as the Civil War, it wasn’t so much power and punch that won the day as it was which side would run first. Name a war or conflict, and what wins the day more times than not is the will to win or survive. Fight or flight. This is why the American Army is so effective; we are trained that in war the mission comes first. We are trained to never leave a soldier behind. We are trained to be good teammates. We are trained to care for each other, help each other and protect each other. And in the foxhole, when the bullets are flying, it’s about you and your battle-buddy, fighting for your lives.The bigger picture is that you are defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, part of the oath of enlistment that Bergdahl breached. But if you allow soldiers to run and then suffer inadequate consequences, what are you telling everyone else who swore that same oath? What then does it mean? In our politically correct, social media, “If it feels good, do it” society, oaths and promises seem blasé and passé. In fact, they are our lifeblood. If we let one instance of obvious and blatant desertion slip through the cracks, what then do we do with the next one, or the next? Kneeling for the national anthem and the absence of even one American flag on the opening night of a national political convention are not simply warning signs, they are signs of the apocalypse that feed the idea that Bergdahl did nothing wrong. That he is innocent of desertion because he was oppressed and that somehow his actions were free speech. It’s not about any of that. It’s about loyalty. The number one most important Army value, and value in life. The acronym constructed out of the Army Values is LDRSHIP (Leadership). The Army aspires to train every soldier to be a leader. In the American Army, even E-Private Zero, Snuffy Smith is expected to carry out the mission if all the leaders above him are incapacitated, in the spirit of Audie Murphy. Murphy, the highly decorated farm boy turned hero from WWII who was battlefield promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant and saved many lives with his heroism, over, and over again, all at 5’4” and 112 pounds, carried on with the mission, time and again. We owe it to the memory of all those who gave their lives in defense of this great nation. We owe it to those who were injured and may have died while searching for Bowe Bergdahl, and we owe it to the future of this nation that Bowe Bergdahl’s punishment fit the crime. But the punishment in this case has not fit the crime in any way, shape or form. The echo from this proceeding will carry far and wide, that the perceived suffering of one man, a deserter, held more weight than the entire history of the military of the greatest nation on earth.
Former Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl apparently forgot these when, on June 30, 2009, he deserted his unit in Afghanistan, where he wanted to, in his words, “make the world a better place.” Former SGT Bergdahl also forgot that he was wearing the uniform of the United States Army, and that armies fight wars. He signed up. No one forced him into service, and no one forced him to continue service if at any point he decided he had had enough.
In the Army there are legitimate avenues of redress of grievances, and now more than ever before. Your chain of command, the Chaplain, a JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer, or even the highest commander above where you think your problem lies. SGT Bergdahl had whipped himself into an almost psychotic state of isolation, from his unit, from his battle-buddies and even from himself. In the end, the enemy seemed more desirable than the mess he had made in his foxhole.
The sentencing of SGT (now PV-1) Bergdahl is now complete. Instead of a 14 year sentence, sought by the prosecution, a sentence of time served, a reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay and a dishonorable discharge will have to do.
Although Bergdahl had plead guilty to desertion and misconduct before the enemy, the circumstances under which SGT Bergdahl was released, the trade of five Taliban leaders notwithstanding, has its own implications of treason. Some have said that Bergdahl has suffered enough, including his defense team. Some say he is not fit to live, let alone wear the uniform. Several witnesses have testified about their war injuries and losses they claim happened because of Bergdahl’s desertion. There were rumors but no evidence that SGT Bergdahl had given the enemy critical information about the unit, its operations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). This would allow the enemy to anticipate the unit’s movements and tendencies, potentially deadly information. Some say, while searching for SGT Bergdahl, they were hit and men died. One man, a former Navy SEAL, claimed tearfully that his service dog was killed on one such mission, and others suffered crippling and career ending injuries. All of this was supposedly taken into consideration before the sentence was handed down by the military judge, Col. Jeffery Nance.
In my opinion, all this testimony is over-engineering. It’s all good, but shouldn’t be necessary to complete the project. Bergdahl deserted in a time of war. How do you maintain good order and discipline if you allow folks to just walk away? There is no claim of insanity. There is no plea bargain. There is no excuse. The punishment for desertion can be death.The reason for this goes back to the beginning of human conflict. If you run in the face of the enemy, you have abdicated your responsibility as a member of the group to help keep the group safe.
In our own Revolutionary War and subsequent conflicts, such as the Civil War, it wasn’t so much power and punch that won the day as it was which side would run first. Name a war or conflict, and what wins the day more times than not is the will to win or survive. Fight or flight. This is why the American Army is so effective; we are trained that in war the mission comes first. We are trained to never leave a soldier behind. We are trained to be good teammates. We are trained to care for each other, help each other and protect each other. And in the foxhole, when the bullets are flying, it’s about you and your battle-buddy, fighting for your lives.The bigger picture is that you are defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, part of the oath of enlistment that Bergdahl breached. But if you allow soldiers to run and then suffer inadequate consequences, what are you telling everyone else who swore that same oath? What then does it mean? In our politically correct, social media, “If it feels good, do it” society, oaths and promises seem blasé and passé. In fact, they are our lifeblood. If we let one instance of obvious and blatant desertion slip through the cracks, what then do we do with the next one, or the next? Kneeling for the national anthem and the absence of even one American flag on the opening night of a national political convention are not simply warning signs, they are signs of the apocalypse that feed the idea that Bergdahl did nothing wrong. That he is innocent of desertion because he was oppressed and that somehow his actions were free speech. It’s not about any of that. It’s about loyalty. The number one most important Army value, and value in life. The acronym constructed out of the Army Values is LDRSHIP (Leadership). The Army aspires to train every soldier to be a leader. In the American Army, even E-Private Zero, Snuffy Smith is expected to carry out the mission if all the leaders above him are incapacitated, in the spirit of Audie Murphy. Murphy, the highly decorated farm boy turned hero from WWII who was battlefield promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant and saved many lives with his heroism, over, and over again, all at 5’4” and 112 pounds, carried on with the mission, time and again. We owe it to the memory of all those who gave their lives in defense of this great nation. We owe it to those who were injured and may have died while searching for Bowe Bergdahl, and we owe it to the future of this nation that Bowe Bergdahl’s punishment fit the crime. But the punishment in this case has not fit the crime in any way, shape or form. The echo from this proceeding will carry far and wide, that the perceived suffering of one man, a deserter, held more weight than the entire history of the military of the greatest nation on earth.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 239
I totally agree. Bergdahl deserted his post without regard to others. Since President Obama traded 5 big terrorists for him (who should’ve either rotted in the enemies prison or was placed under the maximum penalty, death in this case) but the bleeding hearts of being political correct and not following the UCMJ won in this case a slapped the rest of the military in the face.
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Just saying , as an enlisted troop some young troops screw up bad, as an NCO, he should be executed
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Some of you may remember lt Kelly,garwood,and the son of a bitch carter who let them off! And the cowardly army folded to the politicians!
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My recommendation would be a firing squad, but if not approved, a Dishonorable Discharge and reduced to lowest rank , will do, Carry on, continue mission
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The man is a head case, it happens. I am pretty sure everyone can figure out that deserting isn't a smart thing to do, especially when they see how universally hated this person is now. I don't want someone like that serving next to me. So what would the purpose be of killing the guy? Is locking him up for more time going to serve any purpose? His life is already screwed up for as long as he lives. Do you really think the lower ranks are talking about how Bergdahl got over on the system and all the great things that could happen if they desert too?
Like I said he is a head case, I am sure he was showing signs of being mentally screwed up before he was deployed. He probably should have been looked at in that regard before he got there. We had a Marine Sgt. on my ship who was wigging out a lot of the time and told folks he was going home, he jumped off the ship at night and tried to swim home to North Carolina, screwed up morale for a while. I think we need to weed these people out ahead of time and leave them behind until they can get their heads together or show them the door.
Everybody is all angry about Bergdahl getting off easy, there aint anything easy left to his life, I wouldn't trade places with him for anything. The officers and senior NCO's over him should have been aware he wasn't stable at times and taken action to prevent these types of "morale sucking incidents" before they happen. The decisions brass hats in DC made afterward is above my pay grade. I'd rather go into battle a man short than have the burden of an unstable nut job serving next to me.....just sayin'
Like I said he is a head case, I am sure he was showing signs of being mentally screwed up before he was deployed. He probably should have been looked at in that regard before he got there. We had a Marine Sgt. on my ship who was wigging out a lot of the time and told folks he was going home, he jumped off the ship at night and tried to swim home to North Carolina, screwed up morale for a while. I think we need to weed these people out ahead of time and leave them behind until they can get their heads together or show them the door.
Everybody is all angry about Bergdahl getting off easy, there aint anything easy left to his life, I wouldn't trade places with him for anything. The officers and senior NCO's over him should have been aware he wasn't stable at times and taken action to prevent these types of "morale sucking incidents" before they happen. The decisions brass hats in DC made afterward is above my pay grade. I'd rather go into battle a man short than have the burden of an unstable nut job serving next to me.....just sayin'
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MSG David Villasenor
It is not about how screw up his life is .. it is about the people that were injured, hurt, and killed while conducting search and rescue operations on this traitor POS. who care if his life is a living hell? you reap what you sow... simple as that.
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SP5 Jeannie Carle
I have to agree with you, PO1 Jeffrey Pennala, re serving beside such a one. Females were not serving in combat when I was in, but I served with a few I'd sure as HELL not want to be beside if we were to do this. I served with MANY I'd reallly have liked to have had my back, but some....????????? Nope.
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You are absolutely correct.
When he walked away from his post, he deliberately sought out the Taliban so he could join them.
During his stay with the Taliban, he converted to Islam and declared himself a “mujahid.”
It took some time before charges were even brought against the little shitbag, since Obama treated him like a pet to advance his political agenda.
While on military duty in Afghanistan, Bowe Bergdahl left his gear in a nice neat little pile along with a note that explained he was running away. He willfully collaborated with the enemy and declared himself ‘mujahid’ and allegiance to Islamic jihad. The attacks his unit endured got more methodical and precise after Bergdahl’s desertion.
Six Soldiers were killed looking for his worthless ass. Barky traded five of the worst muzzie cutthroats at GITMO for this piece of crap.
They should have left him with the Taliban. They should have considered him an enemy combatant and killed him on the battlefield.
Barring that, he should be taken out and shot.
The presiding judge Col. Jeffery Nance, should be tossed off the bench. He trivialized Bergdahl’s cowardice and treason by giving him a slap on the wrist.
When he walked away from his post, he deliberately sought out the Taliban so he could join them.
During his stay with the Taliban, he converted to Islam and declared himself a “mujahid.”
It took some time before charges were even brought against the little shitbag, since Obama treated him like a pet to advance his political agenda.
While on military duty in Afghanistan, Bowe Bergdahl left his gear in a nice neat little pile along with a note that explained he was running away. He willfully collaborated with the enemy and declared himself ‘mujahid’ and allegiance to Islamic jihad. The attacks his unit endured got more methodical and precise after Bergdahl’s desertion.
Six Soldiers were killed looking for his worthless ass. Barky traded five of the worst muzzie cutthroats at GITMO for this piece of crap.
They should have left him with the Taliban. They should have considered him an enemy combatant and killed him on the battlefield.
Barring that, he should be taken out and shot.
The presiding judge Col. Jeffery Nance, should be tossed off the bench. He trivialized Bergdahl’s cowardice and treason by giving him a slap on the wrist.
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