--- title: Bowe Bergdahl Reportedly Won't Call Family After Release description: Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has reportedly declined to call his family canonical: https://time.com/2845429/bowe-bergdahl-parents-taliban/ author: Sam Frizell article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-06-08T19:08:32.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:57:24.219Z article:section: Politics og:title: Bowe Bergdahl Reportedly Won't Call Family After Release og:description: Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has reportedly declined to call his family og:url: https://time.com/2845429/bowe-bergdahl-parents-taliban/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blteaf0597de02bc74d/698696ac3bc9993f571a3fb2/495330957-1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1499 og:image:height: 843 og:image:alt: Bergdahl Being Treated At U.S. Military Hospital In Germany og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Bowe Bergdahl Reportedly Won't Call Family After Release twitter:description: Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has reportedly declined to call his family twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blteaf0597de02bc74d/698696ac3bc9993f571a3fb2/495330957-1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Freed American Soldier Reportedly Won't Call Parents > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=e4b95325-9cf1-4edb-9cda-0fa588f5b6cb&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Here’s What That Bergdahl Video Really Shows [Watch (HLS stream): Here’s What That Bergdahl Video Really Shows](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PYBoRFho.m3u8) (2:58)  _Published 2014-06-04. TIME's Mark Thompson on what the video really means_ by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Jun 8, 2014 7:08 PM UTC by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Jun 8, 2014 7:08 PM UTC Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl [suffered harsh treatment](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/08/us/after-release-from-taliban-bowe-bergdahl-suffers-from-skin-and-gum-disorders-but-is-physically-sound.html) at the hands of his Taliban captors and is [not yet emotionally ready](http://online.wsj.com/articles/u-s-official-sgt-bowe-bergdahl-has-declined-to-speak-to-his-family-1402242356) to speak with his family more than a week after his release, according to reports Sunday. Bergdahl, who was freed May 31 by the Taliban in a controversial exchange for five Guantánamo Bay prisoners, has not yet contacted his parents even though he is free to do so at any time, [multiple news](http://online.wsj.com/articles/u-s-official-sgt-bowe-bergdahl-has-declined-to-speak-to-his-family-1402242356) [sources reported](http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/08/us-usa-afghanistan-bergdahl-idUSKBN0EJ0HL20140608), citing anonymous U.S. officials. He has received a letter from his sister but has not yet responded, [the New York _Times_](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/08/us/after-release-from-taliban-bowe-bergdahl-suffers-from-skin-and-gum-disorders-but-is-physically-sound.html) reports. The _Wall Street Journal_, citing an anonymous official, reports Bergdahl has declined to speak with his family so far. The 28-year-old is suffering from disorders affecting his gums and skin after five years in captivity, though he is otherwise in sound health and shows few signs of the malnourishment apparent in earlier videos the Taliban made of the soldier late last year. Bergdahl was held in a metal cage in the darkness for weeks after a failed escape attempt, according to reports, and is emotionally unstable. Despite that, he is physically healthy enough to travel back to the U.S. for treatment, officials said. “The Department of Defense does not comment on discussions that Sergeant Bergdahl is having with the professionals who are providing him medical and reintegration care,” Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement. “We will respect that process in all regards.” His release has ignited a political firestorm, with members of Congress clamoring that President Barack Obama broke the law by transferring detainees from Guantánamo Bay without congressional notification, and some of his fellow soldiers accusing him of desertion. “As we have noted, the Army will conduct a comprehensive review to learn the circumstances of Sergeant Bergdahl’s disappearance and captivity,” Kirby added. “That process, too, needs to be respected. Our focus remains on providing him with the care he needs.” Republican Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan said on Sunday he was sure that three of the five former Guantánamo prisoners exchanged for Bergdahl would return to the battlefield. “I am absolutely convinced of that,” Rogers said on ABC’s [_This Week_.](http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/video/week-interview-chairman-mike-rogers-24047115) Secretary of State John Kerry vigorously defended the prisoner swap on Sunday, saying it would have been “offensive and incomprehensible” to leave Sergeant Bergdahl in the hands of people who might torture him or “cut off his head.” Kerry [warned](http://time.com/2845236/bowe-bergdahl-taliban-john-kerry/) that the released Taliban leaders could be killed if they return to the fight. ## Transcript The U. S. Military hasn't told us a lot yet about the rescue of Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban. However, the Taliban have released a video that offers us some clues and insights into what happened that day deep in the coast valley. We start by seeing Bergdahl sitting in the right rear seat of a pickup truck. His posture is unusual. In fact, his hands may be bound in some way underneath his thighs. He appears dazed at best, terrified at worst. At a minimum he seems plainly out of it. He listens as a masked captor, armed with an AK 47 leans into the vehicle, apparently giving him instructions. Bergdahl, wearing traditional Afghan garb under a striped white shawl, is pale and gaunt as if he's been inside for years. He's blinking incessantly as if he hasn't seen bright light for a long time either. A crude white flag raised by a Taliban on what appears to be a freshly cut branch declares that a temporary truce has been declared at this time and at this place. That's an important sign if we can believe it. Because most of the Taliban shown are armed with AK 47s and rocket propelled grenade launchers. Traditionally someone carrying a white flag is not to be fired upon. Bergdahl wipes dust or a tear from his left eye. Just before the Taliban speaking to him taps him softly three times on his right shoulder. One Taliban is armed with what appears to be a radio, apparently keeping superiors informed of what's happening on the ground. Finally, a helicopter appears overhead. The modified UH60 Blackhawk is the only U. S. military asset clearly seen in the video. But other aircraft are lurking around. Bergdahl stands outside the vehicle with one of his captures. His eyes seem to follow the descent of the approaching chopper. Bergdalh and a pair of Taliban meet with three US personal wearing civilian clothes. As Bergdahl is led to the helicopter, his gait appears unsteady. That could be because he'd been shackled for much of the time, including while he slept, following a reported escape attempt. A fellow American holds him by the left arm, hoping to ease him over the rough terrain. US troops wave goodbye to the Taliban, the Taliban wave back. Bergdahl, who never looks back, does not wave. US troops pat down Bergdahl before they let him into their helicopter. Filled with troops in uniform, that simple due diligence. Bergdahl could have been carrying a weapon or drugs and booby traps by his captors. The most critical part of the pick- up, of course, were the anonymous special operations forces on board Blackhawk Number 41. The touchdown for a minute deep inside enemy territory. 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