Some Good News

[lordmonar]

http://news.yahoo.com/us-soldier-freed-captivity-afghanistan-164824831--politics.html

[SilentPhantom]

http://news.yahoo.com/us-soldier-freed-captivity-afghanistan-164824831--politics.html

Bout time the poor guy got freed...  :clap:

[Garibaldi]

I seem to recall there is still an MIA there...Maupassant, I think his name is. He has been missing since 03 or 04.

[SilentPhantom]

I seem to recall there is still an MIA there...Maupassant, I think his name is. He has been missing since 03 or 04.

Actually  it's someone else. Name starts with a B, I think.

[LSThiker]

I seem to recall there is still an MIA there...Maupassant, I think his name is. He has been missing since 03 or 04.

Actually  it's someone else. Name starts with a B, I think.

According to the DoD, all service personnel have been recovered.  Although a Major Gilbert is debated.  I cannot remember if the USAF has "resumed" search or not. 

[Pingree1492]

Let's not speculate on additional POW's when it is so easy to find the information.  SGT Bergdahl is the only service member from OEF that was still a POW.  While there may be questions surrounding the exact nature of his capture, I'm very glad he is now out of that wasteland of a country.  I'm even more happy for his father, and the rest of his family, as his return has to be an enormous relief.  I remember reading about the motorcycle ride he put together for his son last year (link below).  While we might question the prisoner exchange that took place, I can only feel relief that his family's efforts to get their son back finally paid off.

There are still US Citizens either missing or POW's in Iraq, from OIF.  All three are DoD contractors whose exact status is still unknown.  Here's some more info on them:  http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/Iraq_Conflicts/

And a little bit more info on Maj Gilbert, USAF, whose body was taken by insurgents from his crash site in Iraq in 2006.  http://www.wfaa.com/news/national/family-slain-veteran-partial-remains-air-force-veteran-232422941.html

Motorcycle Ride Link: http://magicvalley.com/news/local/event-to-raise-awareness-of-pow-bergdahl/article_43ac8961-4ba5-5614-826d-5abe45a6e3cd.html

[abdsp51]

I seem to recall there is still an MIA there...Maupassant, I think his name is. He has been missing since 03 or 04.

You were probably think of Sgt Keith M. Maupin.  MIA since 2003 and whose body was recovered in 2008.

[SilentPhantom]

Let's not speculate on additional POW's when it is so easy to find the information.  SGT Bergdahl is the only service member from OEF that was still a POW.  While there may be questions surrounding the exact nature of his capture, I'm very glad he is now out of that wasteland of a country.  I'm even more happy for his father, and the rest of his family, as his return has to be an enormous relief.  I remember reading about the motorcycle ride he put together for his son last year (link below).  While we might question the prisoner exchange that took place, I can only feel relief that his family's efforts to get their son back finally paid off.

There are still US Citizens either missing or POW's in Iraq, from OIF.  All three are DoD contractors whose exact status is still unknown.  Here's some more info on them:  http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/Iraq_Conflicts/

And a little bit more info on Maj Gilbert, USAF, whose body was taken by insurgents from his crash site in Iraq in 2006.  http://www.wfaa.com/news/national/family-slain-veteran-partial-remains-air-force-veteran-232422941.html

Motorcycle Ride Link: http://magicvalley.com/news/local/event-to-raise-awareness-of-pow-bergdahl/article_43ac8961-4ba5-5614-826d-5abe45a6e3cd.html

^+1 Couldn't have it better myself. :clap:

[Garibaldi]

I seem to recall there is still an MIA there...Maupassant, I think his name is. He has been missing since 03 or 04.

You were probably think of Sgt Keith M. Maupin.  MIA since 2003 and whose body was recovered in 2008.

That was him. Didn't know they recovered his remains.

[Garibaldi]

I've been reading a lot of negative stuff about Bergdahl since his release. It reminds me of the situation surrounding Robert Garwood when he returned from being MIA in the late 70s. He was under suspicion of having deserted and collaborated with the enemy as well. I suppose the truth will come out sooner or later, but a POW is a POW is a POW. I don't think the circumstances involving dealing with the Towlie Ban is a good thing, but since when does our government care about policy lately?

[Panache]

I've been reading a lot of negative stuff about Bergdahl since his release.

Apparently there's a lot of negative feelings from the members of SGT Bergdahl's unit towards him.

[JacobAnn]

Lots of speculation at this point.  I'm sure more facts will surface in the future although they are likely to be clouded by the political spinsters. 

[LSThiker]

GEN Dempsey said it best and we should just leave it at that:

In response to those of you interested in my personal judgments about the recovery of SGT Bowe Bergdahl, the questions about this particular soldier's conduct are separate from our effort to recover ANY U.S. service member in enemy captivity. This was likely the last, best opportunity to free him. As for the circumstances of his capture, when he is able to provide them, we'll learn the facts. Like any American, he is innocent until proven guilty. Our Army's leaders will not look away from misconduct if it occurred. In the meantime, we will continue to care for him and his family.  Finally, I want to thank those who for almost five years worked to find him, prepared to rescue him, and ultimately put themselves at risk to recover him.

[Private Investigator]

I've been reading a lot of negative stuff about Bergdahl since his release. It reminds me of the situation surrounding Robert Garwood when he returned from being MIA in the late 70s. He was under suspicion of having deserted and collaborated with the enemy as well. I suppose the truth will come out sooner or later, but a POW is a POW is a POW. I don't think the circumstances involving dealing with the Towlie Ban is a good thing, but since when does our government care about policy lately?

When Garwood returned in 1979 I was a Squad Leader in MP Company, 2ndMarDiv and was volunteered for his firing squad detail. 

[Panache]

Apparently one Obama Administration official, Brandon Friedman (the Obama administration's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at HUD), has taken it upon himself to smear soldiers in Berdahl's prior unit as "psychopaths".

https://twitter.com/BFriedmanDC

[lordmonar]

Why not....everyone else gets to speculate on the sanity and character of Berdahl.....what's wrong with a little speculation.

Let's also be honest here....Mr Friedman did not accuse anyone of being psychopaths....but suggested it as part of a "What if".

Look also that the tweet prior Mr. Freidman agrees an investigation needs to take place.....we just all need to stop prejudging.

[Pingree1492]

I find it funny that so many people are up in arms about the Bergdahl situation.  I'm willing to bet the majority didn't even know America even had a POW over there since 2009.  I find it funny in the same way that people who saw me in uniform coming off R&R and going back to Afghanistan in 2012 would say, "Oh, I didn't even realize we were still over there."

I served in the same area that he did, in RC East.  It's a very poor, very crappy place, very dangerous place.  I can sympathize with Bergdahl's desire to walk away from his COP.  Which isn't the same thing as saying I approve or agree with them.  I simply understand it. 

Two years ago, Rolling Stone did a very comprehensive article (though it has a bit of a political slant, but still good info) about Bergdahl while he was a POW.  Here's a link:  http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/americas-last-prisoner-of-war-20120607

I don't think that there's any question that he walked away from his COP of his own volition.  And I know what Personnel Recovery operations look like, so I can't blame the members from his unit from holding a few grudges where he is concerned.  However, it's obvious from photos that the kid has gone through hell the past 5 years- just look at the photo on the Rolling Stone article compared to the photo on his release. 

I'm glad we got him back, though I don't agree with the way we got him back.  We have done these types of trades before- just not quite as high profile.  Remember, we negotiated with some pretty unsavory people to recover the remains of some of our soldiers in Iraq, and you didn't see the media storm surrounding that- probably because people couldn't be bothered to care.  We can all take comfort though, that in a year or so, those 5 Taliban will simply become drone bait.

[Eclipse]

I find it funny that so many people are up in arms about the Bergdahl situation.  I'm willing to bet the majority didn't even know America even had a POW over there since 2009.  I find it funny in the same way that people who saw me in uniform coming off R&R and going back to Afghanistan in 2012 would say, "Oh, I didn't even realize we were still over there."

Mark Cuban, on a recent episode of the Carolla Podcast, referred to this type of thing as "Headline Porn", and
it's an apropos term.

If anyone cares why I disdain "social" media so much it is situations like this.

160 Characters at 0900 and everyone is happy, spreading "Likes" and "ReTweets" to their whole circle.

Another 160 at 0930 and those same people are "Outraged".

Most people know too little about the things they are "outraged" over to even have the right to an opinion,
let alone "outrage", but the gateway to entry for "outrage" is so low that it perpetuates like kudzu.

The truth will eventually out, no one will be satisfied, and it will be election fodder, regardless of the facts.

[DennisH]

Not really good news, a deserter was returned and will now go on trial for deserting and a whole list of other charges. This will serve as yet another distraction that the country doesn't need.

[LSThiker]

Not really good news, a deserter was returned and will now go on trial for deserting and a whole list of other charges. This will serve as yet another distraction that the country doesn't need.

This man is innocent until proven guilty.  He has not been proven guilty to date.  It is only a distraction if you let it be.