Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to be court-martialed for leaving his post in Afghanistan six years ago

The once celebrated American Platoon Commanders of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's platoon, company and battalion who is on trial, testified Thursday at a hearing to determine if he should face a court-martial for leaving his post in Afghanistan six years ago, and each stressed that the ensuing search put his fellow soldiers in danger. 

 

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, left, defense counsel Lt. Col. Franklin D. Rosenblatt, center, and lead defense counsel Eugene Fidell sit during a preliminary hearing to determine if Sgt. Bergdahl will be court martialed. Bergdahl, who left his post in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years, is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (AP Photo/Brigitte Woosley)

This US Army handout photo obtained June 1, 2014 shows Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, before his capture by the Taliban in Afghanistan (AFP Photo/)

Attorneys for Bergdahl, who is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, will get to present their own evidence and call witnesses on Friday. His lead attorney, Eugene Fidell, said after Thursday's proceedings that he would call four witnesses, though he declined to say if Bergdahl would be one of them.

Maj. Silvino Silvino, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's company commander, is questioned during a preliminary hearing to determine if Sgt. Bergdahl should face a court-martial Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Bergdahl, who left his post in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years, is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Brigitte Woosley via AP)

Soldiers walk past a military police officer, right, patrolling the perimeter of the US Army IMCOM HQ building prior to the Article 32 preliminary hearing to determine if Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will be court martialed, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Bergdahl, who left his post in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years, is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Bergdahl spent five years as a Taliban captive until he was exchanged last year for five Taliban commanders who were being held at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The prisoner swap was sharply criticized by many Republicans and some Democrats, who said it was politically motivated and counter to the U.S. policy against negotiating with terrorists.

Jani and Bob Bergdahl, the parents of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, speak during a press conference at Gowen Field on Sunday, June 1, 2014, in Boise, Idaho. The father of an American soldier just released from captivity in Afghanistan said Sunday that he is proud of how far his son, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, was willing to go to help the Afghan people. (AP Photo/Times-News, Ashley Smith)

Before disappearing, Bergdahl had expressed opposition to the war in general and misgivings about his own role in it. Military prosecutor Maj. Margaret Kurz said Thursday that Bergdahl had actually been planning for weeks to abandon the post and had emailed friends and family about his plans beforehand.

Capt. John Billings, right, is questioned as Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, left, and lead defense counsel Eugene Fidell look on during a preliminary hearing to determine if Sgt. Bergdahl should face a court-martial Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Bergdahl, who left his post in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years, is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Brigitte Woosley via AP)

If Bergdahl is eventually convicted of the misbehavior charge, he could face up to life in a military prison. He could also be dishonorably discharged, reduced in rank and made to forfeit all pay. 

A military police officer patrols the perimeter of the US Army IMCOM HQ building prior to the Article 32 preliminary hearing to determine if Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will be court-martialed, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Bergdahl, who left his post in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years, is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Eugene Fidell, lead defense counsel to Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, speaks to members of the media after a preliminary hearing to determine if Sgt. Bergdahl should face a court-martial, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Bergdahl, who left his post in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years, is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, sits in a vehicle guarded by the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan. Bergdahl was freed by the Taliban on May 31, 2014, in exchange for five Afghan detainees held in the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Two American values, never leave a man behind and never negotiate with terrorists, collided in the Bergdahl calamity with each ethos running deep in the American conscience. (AP Photo/Voice Of Jihad Website via AP video)

This photo provided by Eugene R. Fidell shows Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl preparing to be interviewed by Army investigators in August, 2014. The U.S. Army has begun questioning Bergdahl about his disappearance in Afghanistan that led to five years in captivity by the Taliban, his attorney and an Army spokeswoman said Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Eugene R. Fidell)

In this file image taken from video obtained from Voice Of Jihad Website, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, right, stands with a Taliban fighter in eastern Afghanistan. The Taliban said Friday, June 6, 2014, that Bergdahl was treated well during the five years they held him captive and was even allowed to play soccer with the men holding him. (AP Photo/Voice Of Jihad Website via AP video, File)

Flags and balloons marking the release from captivity of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl adorn the sidewalk outside a shop in the soldier's hometown of Hailey, Idaho, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. The exchange for five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo and the still-murky circumstances of how Bergdahl came to be captured nearly five years ago have prompted a fierce debate in Washington and across the country. (AP Photo/Brian Skoloff)

Diane Walker takes a picture of a sign celebrating U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's release in front of Zaney's coffee shop in Hailey, Idaho. Bergdahl, 28, had been held prisoner by the Taliban since June 30, 2009. He was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees held by the United States. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Kyle Green

Accompanied by President Barack Obama, Jani Bergdahl, and Bob Bergdahl speak during a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Saturday, May 31, 2014 about the release of their son, U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Bergdahl, 28, had been held prisoner by the Taliban since June 30, 2009. He was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees held by the United States. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

ondra Van Ert, co-owner of Baldy Sports, hangs a sign celebrating news of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's release on Saturday, May 31, 2014 in Hailey, Idaho, his hometown. Bergdahl, 28, had been held prisoner by the Taliban since June 30, 2009. He was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees held by the United States. (AP Photo/The Times-News, Ashley Smith)

Celebratory signs are displayed outside Zaney's coffeeshop in Hailey, Idaho, May 31, 2014. (REUTERS/Patrick Sweeney)

This June 21, 2013 file photo shows a yellow ribbon honoring captive U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl tied to a tree in Hailey, Idaho. The nearly five-year effort to free the only American soldier held captive in Afghanistan is scattered among numerous federal agencies with a loosely organized group of people working on it mostly part time, according to two members of Congress and military officials involved in the effort. An ever-shrinking U.S. military presence in Afghanistan has re-focused attention on efforts to bring home Bergdahl, who has been held by the Taliban since June 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

This file image provided by IntelCenter on Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010 shows a frame grab from a video released by the Taliban containing footage of a man believed to be Bowe Bergdahl, left. (AP Photo/IntelCenter, File)

The image of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl of Hailey, Idaho, who is being held captive in Afghanistan, is worn by an audience member as Bergdahl's father Bob, not pictured, speaks at the annual Rolling Thunder rally for POW/MIA awareness, in Washington, Sunday, May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Bob Bergdahl, father of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl of Hailey, Idaho, who is being held captive in Afghanistan, speaks at the the annual Rolling Thunder rally for POW/MIA awareness, in Washington, Sunday, May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

In this video frame grab taken from a Taliban propaganda video released Saturday, July 18, 2009 Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 23, of Ketchum, Idaho is shown. U.S. military officials in Afghanistan say they are still searching for 23-year-old Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, who disappeared June 30. (AP Photo/Militant Video)

courtesy Associated Press