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Bergdahl Returns to U.S. for More Treatment Bergdahl, Back in U.S., Is Treated at Army Medical Center
(35 minutes later)
SAN ANTONIO — Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the American prisoner of war freed in exchange for five senior Taliban members, returned to the United States on Friday, arriving overnight in Texas, where he will begin treatment at a military medical facility here.SAN ANTONIO — Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the American prisoner of war freed in exchange for five senior Taliban members, returned to the United States on Friday, arriving overnight in Texas, where he will begin treatment at a military medical facility here.
A Pentagon spokesman, Rear Adm. John F. Kirby, said in a statement that Sergeant Bergdahl had been taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio from Ramstein Air Base in Germany.A Pentagon spokesman, Rear Adm. John F. Kirby, said in a statement that Sergeant Bergdahl had been taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio from Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Sergeant Bergdahl “will continue the next phase of his reintegration process” at the Texas center, Admiral Kirby said in the statement.Sergeant Bergdahl “will continue the next phase of his reintegration process” at the Texas center, Admiral Kirby said in the statement.
There was no timeline for that process, but it is likely to last weeks or longer. The treatment is expected to end with a reunion with his parents. Sergeant Bergdahl has had no direct contact with his parents, military officials have said.There was no timeline for that process, but it is likely to last weeks or longer. The treatment is expected to end with a reunion with his parents. Sergeant Bergdahl has had no direct contact with his parents, military officials have said.
The stay at Brooke Army Medical Center will be the start of the final phase of what military officials describe as a multistep healing and reintegration process for Sergeant Bergdahl, 28, who was held captive for nearly five years by militants. After his release on May 31 to American commandos in Afghanistan, he received medical treatment and counseling at an American military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.The stay at Brooke Army Medical Center will be the start of the final phase of what military officials describe as a multistep healing and reintegration process for Sergeant Bergdahl, 28, who was held captive for nearly five years by militants. After his release on May 31 to American commandos in Afghanistan, he received medical treatment and counseling at an American military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.
“Our focus remains on his health and well-being,” Admiral Kirby said in a statement. The statement also said that the defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, “is confident that the Army will continue to ensure that Sergeant Bergdahl receives the care, time and space he needs to complete his recovery and reintegration.”“Our focus remains on his health and well-being,” Admiral Kirby said in a statement. The statement also said that the defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, “is confident that the Army will continue to ensure that Sergeant Bergdahl receives the care, time and space he needs to complete his recovery and reintegration.”
After Sergeant Bergdahl’s reintegration, the Army said in a statement that it “would continue its comprehensive review into the circumstances of his disappearance and captivity.”After Sergeant Bergdahl’s reintegration, the Army said in a statement that it “would continue its comprehensive review into the circumstances of his disappearance and captivity.”
Some members of Sergeant Bergdahl’s former unit say he deserted by walking off his post, and they have reacted angrily to his release in exchange for the Taliban detainees. They have also argued that the lives of American soldiers were put at risk in the search for Sergeant Bergdahl.Some members of Sergeant Bergdahl’s former unit say he deserted by walking off his post, and they have reacted angrily to his release in exchange for the Taliban detainees. They have also argued that the lives of American soldiers were put at risk in the search for Sergeant Bergdahl.
Turbulent weather, including high winds and lightning, slammed San Antonio and other parts of Central Texas in advance of Sergeant Bergdahl’s arrival. At Fort Sam Houston, the site of the medical center, news crews began arriving late Thursday, waiting for hours before the Pentagon confirmed Sergeant Bergdahl had been returned to the United States.Turbulent weather, including high winds and lightning, slammed San Antonio and other parts of Central Texas in advance of Sergeant Bergdahl’s arrival. At Fort Sam Houston, the site of the medical center, news crews began arriving late Thursday, waiting for hours before the Pentagon confirmed Sergeant Bergdahl had been returned to the United States.
As the first glimmer of daylight broke, traffic began streaming into one of the main gates as TV correspondents near a visitors center reported for early morning news shows.As the first glimmer of daylight broke, traffic began streaming into one of the main gates as TV correspondents near a visitors center reported for early morning news shows.
In San Antonio, Sergeant Bergdahl will begin the last of three phases of what the military calls “post-captivity reintegration,” including specific steps to overcome the coping strategies that a captive may have developed to handle the trauma of being imprisoned, isolated and degraded. The reintegration can involve hundreds of people, including family members, members of a freed prisoner’s former unit, doctors and lawyers.In San Antonio, Sergeant Bergdahl will begin the last of three phases of what the military calls “post-captivity reintegration,” including specific steps to overcome the coping strategies that a captive may have developed to handle the trauma of being imprisoned, isolated and degraded. The reintegration can involve hundreds of people, including family members, members of a freed prisoner’s former unit, doctors and lawyers.
The process is likely to be complicated by the length and circumstances of Sergeant Bergdahl’s confinement, and the uproar over his release, said Dr. Frank Ochberg, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Michigan State University who specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder.The process is likely to be complicated by the length and circumstances of Sergeant Bergdahl’s confinement, and the uproar over his release, said Dr. Frank Ochberg, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Michigan State University who specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder.
While military doctors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center indicated this week that Sergeant Bergdahl was physically ready to return to the United States, some American officials questioned whether he was emotionally prepared to make the trip. Of particular concern, they said, were the potential psychological effects of reuniting with his parents and media exposure upon his return.While military doctors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center indicated this week that Sergeant Bergdahl was physically ready to return to the United States, some American officials questioned whether he was emotionally prepared to make the trip. Of particular concern, they said, were the potential psychological effects of reuniting with his parents and media exposure upon his return.
As recently as Wednesday, Mr. Hagel told Congress that Sergeant Bergdahl was only beginning to recuperate from the trauma of his imprisonment and that his doctors “don’t believe he’s ready” to leave Landstuhl.As recently as Wednesday, Mr. Hagel told Congress that Sergeant Bergdahl was only beginning to recuperate from the trauma of his imprisonment and that his doctors “don’t believe he’s ready” to leave Landstuhl.
President Obama’s decision to negotiate for the release of Sergeant Bergdahl in exchange for the Taliban detainees, who were being held at the American prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, ignited anger among members of Congress and critics who equated the freeing of the Taliban detainees to bargaining with terrorists. Lawmakers in both parties have objected to the move, saying Mr. Obama did not consult adequately with them about Sergeant Bergdahl’s impending release.President Obama’s decision to negotiate for the release of Sergeant Bergdahl in exchange for the Taliban detainees, who were being held at the American prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, ignited anger among members of Congress and critics who equated the freeing of the Taliban detainees to bargaining with terrorists. Lawmakers in both parties have objected to the move, saying Mr. Obama did not consult adequately with them about Sergeant Bergdahl’s impending release.
The Obama administration bypassed a law requiring Mr. Hagel to give Congress 30 days’ notice before transferring a Guantánamo detainee. It did so based on a signing statement issued by Mr. Obama that asserted that he could lawfully sidestep the requirement under certain circumstances.The Obama administration bypassed a law requiring Mr. Hagel to give Congress 30 days’ notice before transferring a Guantánamo detainee. It did so based on a signing statement issued by Mr. Obama that asserted that he could lawfully sidestep the requirement under certain circumstances.
Until Thursday, Sergeant Bergdahl was cloistered at the Landstuhl hospital without access to television or the Internet, officials said. But some details of his imprisonment by the Taliban have emerged, including accounts that Sergeant Bergdahl was held in a cage as punishment for one or two attempts to escape.Until Thursday, Sergeant Bergdahl was cloistered at the Landstuhl hospital without access to television or the Internet, officials said. But some details of his imprisonment by the Taliban have emerged, including accounts that Sergeant Bergdahl was held in a cage as punishment for one or two attempts to escape.