Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
80 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Welcome home Bowe Bergdahl. (Original Post) warrior1 Jun 2014 OP
Welcome Back. Enjoy reunion with the ones you love. mylye2222 Jun 2014 #1
Welcome Home, Soldier riverwalker Jun 2014 #2
K/R Jack Rabbit Jun 2014 #3
Sending love and appreciation to him and his family. DesertDiamond Jun 2014 #4
K/R griloco Jun 2014 #5
Agreed. Le Taz Hot Jun 2014 #6
K & R Iliyah Jun 2014 #7
My respects to him mylye2222 Jun 2014 #8
Well said. mbperrin Jun 2014 #10
Welcome home. I hope you and yours can live in peace csziggy Jun 2014 #9
Huge K & R !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #11
Welcome back Soldier sarge43 Jun 2014 #12
Thank you Scarsdale Jun 2014 #14
Soldier, We Love You klook Jun 2014 #13
I hope his room doesn't get fox news NightWatcher Jun 2014 #15
Welcome Home, Bowe Bergdahl. raging moderate Jun 2014 #16
Welcome home. Heal your body and your heart. War is not good - it is to quote an old soldier - it jwirr Jun 2014 #17
Home safe. Rest, heal. AtheistCrusader Jun 2014 #18
Welcome home! nt riderinthestorm Jun 2014 #19
Welcome Home Bettie Jun 2014 #20
THANK YOU for this OP. IrishAyes Jun 2014 #21
K&R! G_j Jun 2014 #22
Yes libodem Jun 2014 #23
Indeed. calimary Jun 2014 #24
Welcome home, indeed. Hell Hath No Fury Jun 2014 #25
Welcome home and do you need more proof which side supports the troops, for real? randys1 Jun 2014 #26
Welcome Home johnny156 Jun 2014 #27
Welcome home Gothmog Jun 2014 #28
Welcome back. ChazInAz Jun 2014 #29
Big ol' kick. riqster Jun 2014 #30
Sgt Bergdahl liberal from boston Jun 2014 #31
Welcome home. N_E_1 for Tennis Jun 2014 #32
Welcome. And stay safe. It's rough out here these days. nolabear Jun 2014 #33
Welcome home Bowe Zambero Jun 2014 #34
Welcome Home Tree-Hugger Jun 2014 #35
Kicked and recommended! Enthusiast Jun 2014 #36
Welcome home. Peace and alsame Jun 2014 #37
Vets For Peace on Sgt. Bergdahl (moved from other thread) FairWinds Jun 2014 #38
Thank you for that from the VFP Hekate Jun 2014 #50
So glad you're home. LoisB Jun 2014 #39
Wish there was a way we could send iamthebandfanman Jun 2014 #40
Welcome home. SunSeeker Jun 2014 #41
Yes, welcome home and thank you for having the intelligence to have gone there in the first sabrina 1 Jun 2014 #42
I agree with you sabrina. rhett o rick Jun 2014 #54
Huge welcome home MsLeopard Jun 2014 #43
Welcome home soldier tavalon Jun 2014 #44
Peaceful, healing thoughts Iwillnevergiveup Jun 2014 #45
I wish You the absolute best each day!! Thanks for Your service & sensitive soul searching!! hue Jun 2014 #46
Welcome home! nt Raine Jun 2014 #47
Hear Hear! BootinUp Jun 2014 #48
Welcome home soldier. May you and your loved ones find peace. Hekate Jun 2014 #49
Welcome home, Bowe Bergdahl. sheshe2 Jun 2014 #51
Welcome home bro' madokie Jun 2014 #52
Don't let the right-wing swiftboaters get ya down. Welcome home! B Calm Jun 2014 #53
Journey, today, nilesobek Jun 2014 #55
Welcome Back. LLD Jun 2014 #56
Welcome back, Bowe! AAO Jun 2014 #57
Welcome home stopwastingmymoney Jun 2014 #58
Welcome, and then some! tomm2thumbs Jun 2014 #59
k&r... spanone Jun 2014 #60
I am waiting to hear his story from his own mouth yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #61
Welcome Home. greatlaurel Jun 2014 #62
Welcome home, Soldier...... a big "welcome back!" meti57b Jun 2014 #63
Well said. Welcome home, soldier. antiGOPin294 Jun 2014 #64
Welcome home and - LiberalElite Jun 2014 #65
Normal Americans welcome you home The Wizard Jun 2014 #66
agreed. My marine uncle who went from Guadalcanal to Bougainville roguevalley Jun 2014 #69
KNR DirkGently Jun 2014 #67
Indeed! Chuckie68 Jun 2014 #68
If you'd like to post an image copy and past the image URL, you can get that by right clicking on... Agschmid Jun 2014 #74
Welcome home Sergeant Bergdahl and thank you for your service. mountain grammy Jun 2014 #70
Oh and TIME magazine -- yes, he was worth it Blue Owl Jun 2014 #71
welcome home, bowe hopemountain Jun 2014 #72
Kicking. nt littlemissmartypants Jun 2014 #73
, blkmusclmachine Jun 2014 #75
Welcome home, Bowe. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #76
K&R emsimon33 Jun 2014 #77
Welcome home.... Hulk Jun 2014 #78
Thank you for your honesty... MrMickeysMom Jun 2014 #79
Bravissimo Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, American Hero! Unca Adverse Jun 2014 #80

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)
6. Agreed.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 10:45 AM
Jun 2014

And I'm sorry these asswipe reich-wing talking heads are tearing you apart WITHOUT HEARING YOUR SIDE.

klook

(12,134 posts)
13. Soldier, We Love You
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 11:19 AM
Jun 2014

Best wishes to Sgt. Bergdahl, his family and friends, and his hometown supporters who've stood behind him the whole time.

Note: "Soldier, We Love You" is the title of a Vietnam-era song by Rita Martinson, now censored on YouTube but featured on the soundtrack of the documentary Sir! No Sir!

raging moderate

(4,280 posts)
16. Welcome Home, Bowe Bergdahl.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 11:35 AM
Jun 2014

Don't worry about the crazy rantings of the Fox News crowd. This is just what they have been doing, more and more, since we elected an African-American President. While you have been gone, they have become crazier and crazier, looking for excuses to vent their rage. Don't worry, soon they will seize on some other crazy obsession.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
17. Welcome home. Heal your body and your heart. War is not good - it is to quote an old soldier - it
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 11:36 AM
Jun 2014

is hell.

Bettie

(15,995 posts)
20. Welcome Home
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 11:38 AM
Jun 2014

Sorry some people are such assholes.

Hoping you can enjoy time with your family and heal from this.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
21. THANK YOU for this OP.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 11:41 AM
Jun 2014

Due to other pressing life matters, I've been zipping in and out of DU for awhile. So glad I caught your post.

This poor guy has suffered enough, and I'm outraged by the holier-than-thou offal spewed by 'the usual suspects'. One thing I've learned through extensive reading on the subject is that Beau had actually been in another branch of the military - Navy, I think - and was discharged due to emotional issues. But this brave and conscientious young man was determined to serve, and against all decent consideration the Army actually took him because they were so damned determined to supply bodies for the infamous surge. The fact that Bowe buckled under the pressure and left his post is more the fault of the military than his own. I don't mean it in any degrading way, but due to stress he was clearly 'unfit for duty'.

While I've never actually served in the military myself - how many 5' old ladies do you know who have? - I spent the vast majority of my life in and among military folks and their families as an Army brat and later career Army man's wife. So I have at least some understanding of what really goes on. Anyone who thinks of PTSD as a fairly recent phenomenon needs a good history lesson, and also should watch John Huston's documentary 'Let There Be Light' a few dozen times until the lesson sinks in.

Let me tell you something else I know as fact from numerous first hand accounts: A lot of the much-ballyhoo'd 'greatest generation' committed war atrocities with impunity. If a grunt cut loose and mowed down a few prisoners of war, it was winked at. Now I'm not preaching pacifism (noble as the thought is) and I don't think for one second Hitler would've played nice if people had just treated him better. But sweeping the worst of our own behavior under the rug won't do any good either.

So I can feel for Bowe even while acknowledging that his judgment failed him that night. Or maybe it didn't entirely either. Walking off base at night straight into the hands of the enemy was a regrettable way of addressing a matter of consience. He would've been better off simply reporting to his officers that he could no longer fill his post. But then it's easier for me sitting here in old age, comfort and safety to see that; as a matter of course, someone in great prolonged mental anguish is by definition less capable of their better judgment. Nobody has any right to crucify this young man at all.

calimary

(80,693 posts)
24. Indeed.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 11:50 AM
Jun 2014

Whatever they might try to say about you, one thing is clear. YOU WENT - where the chickenhawks feared to tread, even though they sure talked like a bunch o' tuff stuff.

Zambero

(8,954 posts)
34. Welcome home Bowe
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 12:42 PM
Jun 2014

Wishing you happier times ahead with your family and the many, many friends and supporters in your community of Hailey.

 

FairWinds

(1,717 posts)
38. Vets For Peace on Sgt. Bergdahl (moved from other thread)
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 03:35 PM
Jun 2014

People don't seem to "get" that in war emotional injuries are just as common as physical ones.
In VFP we have a lot of experience dealing with the heavy psychological costs of war.
Many of us, in fact, joined VFP as part of our therapy.

Here is part of the Veterans for Peace statement on Sgt. Bergdahl,
delivered by Gerry Condon at the National Press Club, June 10, 2014

"We love you, Sgt. Bergdahl. We have great respect for you and your wonderful family. We are happy that you will be reunited soon!
Veterans For Peace also has a message for President Obama:
Mr. President, I am speaking for thousands of veterans from too many wars. We want you to bring ALL the troops home from Afghanistan! Bring them home now, and take good care of them when they get here.
And Mr. President, it is time to release all the prisoners of war from Guantanamo. End the torture, Shut Down Guantanamo now!
The American people are tired of war. We are ready to live in peace."

- See more at: http://www.veteransforpeace.org/our-work/position-statements/veterans-peace-statement-welcoming-home-sgt-bowe-bergdahl/#sthash.TceOVTuN.dpuf

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
50. Thank you for that from the VFP
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 06:36 PM
Jun 2014

They are wonderful people -- I knew that if anyone would understand, they would.

iamthebandfanman

(8,127 posts)
40. Wish there was a way we could send
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 04:46 PM
Jun 2014

him something from DU to let im know not everyone in this country is bat shit crazy and full of hate..

I was always so moved by the outpour of folks back when we used to send flowers to Helen Thomas for doing her job..


I think someone like mr bergdahl could seriously use some group love after all the nastiness people are putting out

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
42. Yes, welcome home and thank you for having the intelligence to have gone there in the first
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 05:12 PM
Jun 2014

place to HELP the people of Afghanistan, not to abuse or exploit them. For having the compassion to care about one dead Afghan child. And for for having the intelligence to question why you were lied to and to live by your conscience.

If we had more like him, this would be a very different world.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
54. I agree with you sabrina.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 06:47 PM
Jun 2014

I think it very interesting that those posters that post in every hate Snowden and/or Greenwald thread, avoid threads like this like the plague. They also avoid all threads on the TPP, fracking, the Patriot Act, etc. You must admit that is a strong ideology where they all seem to agree 100% with each other. Some here have hinted that it's coordinated but I dont agree. That's too conspiratorial and we know they hate conspiracy theories.

To be clear I dont have a problem with this. To each his own and all that liberal schtuff. Just very curious.

Iwillnevergiveup

(9,298 posts)
45. Peaceful, healing thoughts
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 05:54 PM
Jun 2014

sent your way, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. We're glad you're back. Welcome home, soldier.

tomm2thumbs

(13,297 posts)
59. Welcome, and then some!
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 07:26 PM
Jun 2014

You can bet if Reagan were in the Oval Office when this happened, you wouldn't be hearing a SOLITARY PEEP from the Far Right, the freaky fundies or the FoxNeusers of the world.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
61. I am waiting to hear his story from his own mouth
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 07:33 PM
Jun 2014

Should be months from now but I will wait. It should be interesting to say the least. He would have been better off staying out of the military after he left the Coast Guard after a month. He probably thinks so as well.

greatlaurel

(2,004 posts)
62. Welcome Home.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 08:44 PM
Jun 2014

Good luck and best wishes for your swift recovery from your ordeal. Please have a very long and very happy life, young man.

 

antiGOPin294

(53 posts)
64. Well said. Welcome home, soldier.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 08:58 PM
Jun 2014

You've served your country well, unlike the chickenhawks who send young men to die in their pointless wars (i.e. Bush).

roguevalley

(40,656 posts)
69. agreed. My marine uncle who went from Guadalcanal to Bougainville
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 10:21 PM
Jun 2014

before getting shot would be pissed that this stuff is happening. You get everyone home.

Agschmid

(28,749 posts)
74. If you'd like to post an image copy and past the image URL, you can get that by right clicking on...
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 12:36 AM
Jun 2014

the image.

 

Hulk

(6,699 posts)
78. Welcome home....
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 04:56 AM
Jun 2014

I was a grunt, 11bravo in Vietnam. Damned few know what we went through. You have nothing to be ashamed of. War is hell, and that's not just a cliche. You came home alive, in one piece. I did too; but we'll never be the same. We have lived through something many didn't survive. Be proud of that. Heal, and go on with life. You survived for a reason. Live, and learn what that was.
You have my support and respect. There is a lot of hate out there in our country today. Ignore it, and live your life without need of their blessing. You won't need it. I certainly don't. Good luck and good fortune to you.

MrMickeysMom

(20,453 posts)
79. Thank you for your honesty...
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 07:37 AM
Jun 2014

It is going to prove to assure survival in many more lives than could be counted on the battle field.

Unca Adverse

(29 posts)
80. Bravissimo Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, American Hero!
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 11:41 PM
Jun 2014

This brave young American Hero has seen through the lies and propaganda
of the war criminal Dubya and his vile cohorts.
Their greedy capitalist attempts to steal Middle Eastern oil and illegally intervene
in 'The War in Afghanistan' must cease . . . Now and Forever!
"No War but Class War!" - Frank H. Little (1879 - 1917)

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Welcome home Bowe Bergdah...