Oct. 31 (UPI) — Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl took the stand at his sentencing hearing, becoming emotional while recalling his 5 years as a prisoner of the Taliban.
Bergdahl gave sworn testimony for 2 hours at his hearing Monday in Fort. Bragg, N.C. — testimony that can only be offered by the accused or victims in the military justice system.
Bergdahl walked away from his post in Afghanistan in 2009, prompting many service members to become wounded to search for him. The sergeant was caught and held captive by the Taliban for nearly 5 years. Later, the former captive pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, possibly facing a lifetime in prison.
In a prepared statement to the court, Bergdahl described his “horrible mistake” of deserting his post and apologized to the victims and families of victims who were injured searching for him.
“It was never my intention for anyone to be hurt, and I never expected that to happen,” Bergdahl said. “I grieve for those who suffered and their families. … I was trying to help, and knowing that I did not breaks my heart.”
“There were moments when I lost all understanding of what I was,” he said. “The worst was the constant deterioration of everything, the constant pain of my body falling apart, the constant internal screams.”
The wife of a serviceman who was injured while searching for Bergdahl, Shannon Allen, described on the stand her life caring for her husband, Master Sgt. Mark Allen, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and is unable to communicate.
“It’s taken away all the interaction, really,” Allen said of her relationship with her husband.
Referring to comments by President Donald Trump noting that Bergdahl “should be shot,” Judge Jeffery Nance the “condemning” remarks wouldn’t alter his ruling in the case.
“I am completely unaffected by Trump’s comments,” Nance said.
The sentencing, which began last week, resumes Tuesday.
