Boise News

Idahoans in the Military

Idaho Soldier Captured; Now Held by Taliban UPDATED

By Jill Kuraitis, 7-19-09

Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl of Hailey

UPDATE, Monday July 20 a.m. Maggie O’Mara and Doug Petcash of Boise NBC affiliate KTVB interviewed NBC Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklazewski live this morning, who said, “There have been a couple of cases where those taken into custody by the Taliban have escaped - or in fact been released, or been rescued by us special operations forces. Again the bright note here is that there is no history of the Taliban taking a hostage, publicizing the fact that they have the hostage, making demands and then harming that hostage, that’s the one bright note we have to probably end on today.”

In a video interview posted on KTVB.com, Chief Deputy Gene Ramsey with the Blaine County Sheriff’s office read a statement from the Bergdahl family. After thank the community for its support, the family wrote: “We ask for your continued respect for our need for privacy in this difficult situation.” They also wrote they don’t want to do anything that might “inflame” Bowe’s captors.

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The Department of Defense announced Sunday the identity of a soldier listed as Missing-Captured on July 3 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 23, of Ketchum [Pentagon error] Idaho, was declared Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) on July 1 and his status was changed to “Missing-Captured” on July 3.

Pfc. Bergdahl is a member of 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

A detailed story from John Miller, Idaho Associated Press, tells about how Bergdahl “vanished, just five months after arriving in Afghanistan.”

AP: Bergdahl is from Hailey, a town of about 7,000 people in central Idaho where he worked as a barista and was active in ballet. A sign hanging in the window of Zaney’s River Street Coffee House says “Get Bowe Back,” and a message inside asked customers to “Join all of us at Zaney’s holding light for our friend.”

According to the Department of Defense, the Army hasn’t yet figured out how Bergdahl was captured since there are conflicting reports.

The Taliban has released a video showing a scared-looking Bergdahl in a grey prison-like outfit, with a shaved head. He talks about his family and his girlfriend and gets teary-eyed at one point. “I have a very, very good family that I love back home in America,” he says in the video.

But since the video is Taliban propaganda, DOD officials are not yet releasing detailed information about its meaning.

Don’t miss Miller’s dramatic story and the video of Bergdahl.

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