prisoners of war | Thrive Outdoors Culture Journal

On 30 June 2009, PFC Bowe Bergdahl was taken captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He is currently the only service member still in captivity in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

There is plenty of rhetoric against the circumstances of Bowe’s capture. He’s been called many things. Among them: Deserter, and Traitor. We don’t know exactly what happened to Bowe, and neither do any of the folks that speak out against him so quickly.

For the skeptics we offer some words from a keen White House official:

“Frankly, we don’t give a shit why he left. He’s an American soldier. We want to bring him home.”

And a few words from the document that is the base-line guidance for this kind of situation: Executive Order 10631, “Code of Conduct for Members of the Armed Forces of the United States,” August 17, 1955, as amended.

Article VI. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT I AM AN AMERICAN, FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM, RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ACTIONS, AND DEDICATED TO THE PRINCIPLES WHICH MADE MY COUNTRY FREE. I WILL TRUST IN MY GOD AND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

“No American prisoner of war will be forgotten by the United States. Every available means will be employed by our Government to establish contact with, to support and to obtain the release of all our prisoners of war. Furthermore, the laws of the United States provide for the support and care of dependents of the Armed Forces including those who become prisoners of war. I assure dependents of such prisoners that these laws will continue to provide for their welfare.”

This past Saturday marked the 3 year anniversary of Bowe’s capture. A few of us wanted to remind everyone that he was still out there. A couple of us even showed under “less than sufficient sleep cycles,” after a long Friday night. It was painful, but worth it…

This one’s for you, Soldier. You Are Not Forgotten.