Military Remains Focused on Finding Missing Soldier

By Claudette Roulo

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – The Defense Department remains focused on efforts to return the only U.S. service member known to be in Taliban captivity to his family, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby said today.

Kirby told reporters that freeing Army Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl is a constant focus for commanders in Afghanistan.

“Every day … there is time, attention and sometimes substantial resources applied to trying to locate, identify where he is and to continue to look at options for how to get him home,” he said.

Kirby was asked about Bergdahl during a regular meeting with the Pentagon press corps. The 26-year-old soldier was found missing from his duty station in eastern Afghanistan on June 30, 2009 and was declared missing/captured three days later.

Bergdahl, from Hailey, Idaho, is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

The Defense Department is keeping the Bergdahl family informed of efforts to find and return their son, Kirby said.

“Our thoughts and prayers and our hearts go out to the Bergdahl family and we appreciate the anguish that they continue to endure,” he added.

DOD Seeks Captured Army Sergeant’s Return

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – The Defense Department is doing everything possible to secure the return of an Army sergeant who has been in Taliban hands for nearly three years, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.

During a Pentagon press conference, Panetta responded to questions about Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, whose parents have spoken with reporters this week about their son’s captivity.

The secretary said his heart goes out to the Bergdahl family.

“We certainly understand the concerns of the family, and we share the concerns about Bergdahl and the importance of getting him returned,” Panetta said. “And we're doing everything possible to try to see if we can make that happen.”

Bergdahl, 26, from Hailey, Idaho, has been missing since June 30, 2009, when his unit in Afghanistan noted his absence from roll-call. Bergdahl, who was a private first class when he was captured, is assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. The Army has promoted him twice during his captivity. Bergdahl is the only U.S. service member known to be in enemy captivity.

Asked whether Bergdahl’s return hinges on the release of some detainees now held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba, the secretary said his position on transfers hasn’t changed.

“I would only take [steps to transfer detainees] in accordance with the law and the requirements of the law, and at this stage, frankly, there are no decisions that have been made with regards to that,” Panetta said.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same press conference that he has met with members of the sergeant’s family in his office and has corresponded with family members several times.

“I understand their concerns. And I can assure you that we are doing everything in our power using our intelligence resources across the government to try to find [him],” the general said.

“I'll give you one vignette,” he added. “If you go to the [U.S. Central Command] command center … conference room, there's [a] four-by-six foot poster of Bowe Bergdahl sitting in front of the podium to remind them, and therefore us, every day that he remains missing in action. I can assure you of that.”