The Oklahoman

Troops describe hardships, wounds Bergdahl searches

- BY JONATHAN DREW

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Several soldiers and a Navy SEAL testified Wednesday about the risky, all-out efforts to find Bowe Bergdahl after the soldier’s 2009 disappeara­nce in Afghanista­n. Troops and commanders went without sleep. Shirts and socks disintegra­ted on soldiers during weekslong patrols. And several service members were seriously wounded — including the Navy commando whose career was ended by AK-47 fire.

The testimony came at a sentencing hearing for Bergdahl, who walked away from a remote post in Afghanista­n and was held by Taliban allies for five years. He pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavio­r before the enemy last week and faces a maximum of life in prison.

The wounded SEAL, retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch, said his team’s helicopter­s came under fire as they landed in an area near the Pakistan border where they had informatio­n on Bergdahl’s possible whereabout­s. He said the mission in the days after Bergdahl disappeare­d was hastily planned, and their only objective was the Bergdahl search.

A military dog leading them through a field located two enemy fighters that the team had seen at a distance. Hatch said the fighters sprayed AK-47 bullets at them, killing the dog. He was hit in the leg.

“I screamed a lot. It hurt really bad ... I thought I was dead,” said Hatch, who entered the courtroom with a limp and a service dog.

Hatch said he believes he would have died if a comrade hadn’t quickly applied a tourniquet. Hatch has subsequent­ly had 18 surgeries.

He was largely stoic and spoke in measured tones except for several times when he talked about the slain military dog, Remco. Hatch said the dog helped protect his team by locating enemy fighters after the SEALs lost sight of them.

As the hearing got underway, the Army judge, Col. Jeffery R. Nance, said he was still considerin­g a motion by the defense to dismiss the case. The defense has argued that President Donald Trump’s comments about Bergdahl prevent him from having a fair sentencing hearing.

 ?? OBSERVER VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] [ANDREW CRAFT/THE FAYETTEVIL­LE ?? Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s military attorney, Lt. Col. Franklin Rosenblatt, and his civilian attorney, Eugene Fidell, arrive at the Fort Bragg courthouse for a sentencing hearing Wednesday on Fort Bragg, N.C.
OBSERVER VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] [ANDREW CRAFT/THE FAYETTEVIL­LE Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s military attorney, Lt. Col. Franklin Rosenblatt, and his civilian attorney, Eugene Fidell, arrive at the Fort Bragg courthouse for a sentencing hearing Wednesday on Fort Bragg, N.C.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States