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Bergdahl's Home Town Quiet On Desertion Charges

The home town ofSgt. BoweBergdahlis quiet Wednesday now that the former P.O.W. is charged with desertion.

People who've spoken up to support him are now reluctant. The mayor of Hailey, Idaho, even issued a statement saying that the city is taking no position on the charges that Bergdahl is now facing.

It’s really a contrast from last year when he was first released. This was a city that had really rallied behind him. But one longtime supporter who didn’t want to be identified said the city and those supporters don’t want to attract the kind of vitriol -- and even threats -- that they got last year.

One noticeable difference from then is that all the yellow ribbons and pictures of Bergdahl that used to be up around town are now gone.

A welcome-home celebration for Bergdahl was canceled last year after his release from five years' captivity by the Taliban. The town of Hailey was targeted for celebrating Bergdahl's release when some said he had deserted his post.

Bergdahl is also charged with endangering fellow soldiers and could face a life sentence.

File photo. Jane Drussel's store, Jane's Artifacts, in downtown Hailey, Idaho, used to display yellow ribbons and pictures of Bowe Bergdahl.
Jessica Robinson / Northwest News Network
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Northwest News Network
File photo. Jane Drussel's store, Jane's Artifacts, in downtown Hailey, Idaho, used to display yellow ribbons and pictures of Bowe Bergdahl.
File photo of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl
/ U.S. Army
/
U.S. Army
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been charged with desertion and will face a court martial.

Copyright 2015 Northwest News Network

Jessica Robinson
Jessica Robinson reported for four years from the Northwest News Network's bureau in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho as the network's Inland Northwest Correspondent. From the politics of wolves to mining regulation to small town gay rights movements, Jessica covered the economic, demographic and environmental trends that have shaped places east of the Cascades. Jessica left the Northwest News Network in 2015 for a move to Norway.
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