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Who is Bowe Bergdahl? - Life of the U.S. Soldier captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan:
Uploaded on Jul 22, 2009
HAILEY, Idaho - We are learning more about Bowe Bergdahl, the 23-year-old American soldier being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Since news of his capture was made public over the weekend, his friends in the Sun Valley, Idaho town of Hailey, have told ABC us that Bowe worked at a coffee house for a couple years, liked to ride his bicycle around town and had taken a class at the Sun Valley School of Ballet.
His family, concerned media descriptions of Bowe were limited to "bike riding, ballet dancing, barista," released more details about the life of their son Tuesday, through Walt Femling, the Sheriff of Blaine County, Idaho.
Sheriff Femling, who is a longtime friend of the Bergdahl family, called Bowe an adventurer. He said Bowe loves to ride both bicycles and motorcycles, but not cars. "He didn't like cars so he rode his bike everywhere," said Sheriff Femling.
He recounted how Bowe crewed a sailboat to the Caribbean and a fishing boat in Alaska. He toured Europe and California. "Not bad for somebody who is only 23 years old." He continued, "It's these adventures and others that made Bowe a very well-rounded person and I'm glad to know him." The Sheriff believes that Bowe's adventurous spirit played a part in his decision to join the military.
Bowe was good at handling guns and familiar with martial arts, and yet Sheriff Femling told us he was also a kind and courteous young man, "He would call you 'sir' or 'ma'am' and you know, to get a 23 year old these days to call you that is a little unusual."
As for education, Bowe was home schooled, but Sheriff Femling noted that he did receive his GED through The College of Southern Idaho.
Even though townsfolk had set up a fund for the Bergdahl family at a bank in Hailey, the Sheriff said the family discourages contributions. He explained that's not the focus of the family; they want prayers right now, not money. What's more, they ask everyone to pray not just for Bowe, but also for all of the men and women of the armed forces who find themselves in harm's way.
Video is from nearly five years ago when Hailey, Idaho 'had his back.'
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