When Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl decided to walk away from his Afghanistan post back in 2009, his decision affected far more lives than just his own.
And as an Army judge decides his punishment for pleading guilty to desertion, the Wednesday testimony of a former Navy SEAL whose military dog was killed on the mission to find Bergdahl will be impossible to ignore.
The SEAL, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch, who himself suffered an injury that ended his military career on the mission, limped as he entered the courtroom on Wednesday with his service dog, Mina.
Ret. Navy SEAL James Hatch was injured in search for Bergdahl. He testified: "I screamed a lot. It hurt really bad. I thought I was dead" pic.twitter.com/36jS69nytL
— Morgan Norwood (@Morganorwood) October 25, 2017
Daily Mail described his demeanor as “largely stoic” and noted that he “spoke in measured tones except for several times when he talked about the slain military dog,” which had helped protect he and his team on several occasions.
“His name was Remco,” an emotional Hatch said.
The prosecutor, Army Major Justin Oshana, told Hatch to “take your time,” at which point the former SEAL described when his team’s helicopters endured enemy fire after landing in a Pakistani border area where they thought Bergdahl might have been.
After Remco found two enemy fighters while leading the team through a field, the fighters shot back, killing the dog and hitting Hatch in the leg.
“I screamed a lot. It hurt really bad … I thought I was dead,” Hatch told the court.
In fact, if a fellow soldier hadn’t quickly applied a tourniquet, he believes he would be. Since then, the former Navy SEAL has had 18 surgeries since that attack and now runs a nonprofit organization that supports and cares for military and law enforcement service animals.
The judge, Army Colonel Jeffery Nance, is still considering a defense motion to dismiss the case based on the ridiculous assertion that President Trump’s comments on the case prevent a fair sentencing hearing. Nance has already ruled that the injuries wouldn’t have occurred had Bergdahl not left his post.
According to Daily Mail, “Nance said Monday that he would be fair and hasn’t been influenced by Mr. Trump, but that he does have concerns that the president’s comments are affecting public perceptions.”
The judge will have “wide leeway” to decide Bergdahl’s sentence when testimony ends in several days.
Wake up right! Receive our free morning news blast HERE
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- West Point accepts Parkland student’s application to military academy after his tragic death - February 21, 2018
- Nancy Pelosi is in middle of grandstanding at Arizona townhall when question yelled from audience grinds it to a halt - February 21, 2018
- Columbine survivor blows media’s plan to exploit naive students – here’s what happens when they grow up - February 20, 2018
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
