hprinze Loc: Central Florida

This was written by an ex soldier named Jon Williams

As an Army Veteran who was working as a contractor attached to the 25th Infantry Division (same Division as Bergdahl) in a nearby FOB when Bowe Bergdahl went missing, I feel the need to speak out on the situation (notice I don’t ascribe rank to him, I will address that later).
A few days ago, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel took the stage at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan and excitedly started with what he thought would be a big applause line. “We got him back!” he exclaimed.

Silence.

Not Even One Clap.
Numerous White House leaks show that Obama and his team were convinced that Americans would greet the news of a returning POW with elation; that this would be the great moment in Obama’s second term. This shows just how clueless they are about the military. Let me clue them in.

You see, when Hagel took the stage, he expected joy at the announcement that one of their own was returned! However, you have to see inside a soldier’s mind to understand what was going on here. I believe I can provide a little insight.

When a soldier deserts his post, when he writes that he is ashamed to be an American, when he gives the enemy secrets (and he did), he is no longer “one of us”. He is a t*****r. He is not a brother-in-arms.
Soldiers risk their lives for each other every day on the battlefield. There is a trust and respect they have for each other. For Bowe Bergdahl to break that trust and the Secretary of Defense to announce a hero’s welcome instead of a court-martial is a huge let-down.

He isn't one of their own. He is one of them. He is the enemy.

That's not something to celebrate.

The message the White House is sending is that they value treason more than honorable service.

Read that last sentence again. Let it sink in. THIS is what every soldier is thinking.

In a soldier’s mind serving with honor means finishing your tour, even if you disagree with the way things are done. All bets are off if you serve with dishonor.

I do not refer to Bergdahl as a sergeant, even though he received “automatic” promotions while in the Taliban’s custody because according to law, after 30 days his rank and pay should have been stripped from him. Due to political pressure, his was not. In fact, he probably has over $200,000 in cash waiting in his bank account. In my opinion, this money should be given to the families of the soldiers who died in the aftermath of his desertion.

Bowe Bergdahl deserted his post. He served with dishonor. I know that firsthand. Our soldiers know that. They know they risk their lives every day. They don't get a hero’s welcome from the White House, they get fewer meals (due to budget constraints) and less safety equipment (due to the drawdown).

Let me be perfectly clear. A Rose Garden Ceremony, a “hero’s welcome” and automatic promotions to a person that deserted is nothing more than a slap in the face to every service member who has served honorably.

That, Mr. President and Mr. Hagel, is why soldiers aren’t clapping and applauding for you. That is why you have lost any remaining respect from the military community.

Liberty Tree

Well stated!

robert66

This sounds like the rantings of someone who imagines they are or were a soldier.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Great article. Thanks for posting it.

L.E. Liesner Loc: New Mexico

I really don't think it was so much of "We got him back" as it was in giving the terrorist five of the most vilest of terrorist back to them in trade for a t*****r. The real t*****rs we have today are in our own government. Way back when I was in the Marines, our motto was "Death Before Dishonor", and we lived up to it. Can you imagine the politicians of today with the intestinal fortitude of just living up to their oath of office.

Ricko Loc: Florida

robert66-As with most liberals you have a problem with the t***h. You have been repeatedly lied to by the Kenyan fraud in our White House and are still drinking the kool aid. Anyone who is that steeped in a faulty ideology is beyond help. Your idol is an abject failure and the country is paying the price. Good Luck America !!!

Cmac

66 , how the hell did you get so smart?bergdal is a lying f*g.way to many of his fellow soldiers have came forward and told there story,there all the same.what outfit did you belong too,sounds like if you were in the service of our country it was in the mess hall

mikeold99

I'm glad that this country still has people like you that will speak up aginst the ass holes that are running this country--THANK YOU

MarvinSussman

Thanks for your service.

Did you know him personally, or know of him through somebody who did know him? Evidently, he's a q***r bird. Just curious.

I assume that the army's treatment of him now avoids arguments of prejudice in a future trial. Am I wrong?

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

Yes he does, t***h and facts that don't fit the liberals way of thinking are quickly discarded or a half t***h is told.

Five known terrorists for one unknown was the worst possible trade.

robert66

You should remember that what you learn from any media source may not be "t***h and facts". I have been in a position where persons thought they knew"t***h and facts" about an incident in which I was involved. Of course the worst was assumed. People even spoke in front of me as though they knew all about it. They were so wrong that if you knew what happened in the particular incident you would have thought they were discussing something else entirely. This and other incidents changed the way I viewed others. Assume innocence until proven guilty. What has been learned from media coverage is not enough.

rjoeholl

How the fuck would you know?

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

The worst is assumed? Disagree, listen to the talking heads, Obama's discussion is decisive, first it's they must be destroyed and three minutes it' they can be managed. Obama's idea of management is ignore, he's known about ISIS for better than a year just like the border, just like the IRS, just like Fast and Furious. Obama's idea of manage is to ignore and hope it goes away.