Sanders letter: Bowe Bergdahl

I find John Crisp’s column on “Sgt.” Bergdahl personally insulting. It matters to me, because I was drafted and sent to Vietnam. I do have personal experience with “the demands of combat and the challenge of military life.” Hated every minute of it but the thought of desertion never entered my mind, and I think most of the troops felt the same way. We did what we had to do and to the best of our ability.

Bergdahl didn’t just wander away from camp, according to his own words he stacked his belongings and weapon on his bunk and left to find the Taliban. We have no idea what his captivity was like nor how he was treated by the Taliban except for his words.

I agree every American soldier has the right to repatriation and the right to a fair trial. Mr. Bergdahl deserves his rights. However, did the soldiers who may have died searching for him get their rights? I don’t want Bergdahl to spend the rest of his life in prison but some prison time would be a good call.

This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 11:51 PM with the headline "Sanders letter: Bowe Bergdahl."