Serial Podcast Season 2 Episode 1- Reflection
In June of 2009, Bowe Bergdahl intentionally walked off his army post in Afghanistan. His plan was to walk of his post at OP Mest and run approximately 20 miles to FOB Sharana which was the base. After looking at the fly-over in the Listening Guide, I don’t think it was a very practical plan due to the terrain and the dangers of the heat, dust and altitude. I would have never made it over this terrain because of the heat, dust and physical demands it warrants. I wonder if anyone has attempted or will attempt his plan.
As stated by Bowe’s fellow soldiers OP Mest was a miserable place to be. OP Mest was essentially a campsite. OP Mest was positioned on a hill overlooking to supply roads that were used by the Taliban. Bowe referred to OP Mest as a TCP, traffic control point, which is predominantly what they were there to do. Jon Thurman, who was in a different platoon, said, “OP Mest—it’s probably the worst place humanly imaginable.” He described a place that lacked fundamental resources such as water, plumbing, shade, and electricity. In the area near OP Mest, the land was comprised of finely-grained dirt. People commonly got ill at OP Mest because things couldn’t be kept sanitary enough because of dust and flies. In addition, they had to burn all their trash and feces.
Bowe walked away from his platoon to prove a point. Bowe wanted to cause a DUSTWUN which is when a soldier goes missing. Bowe had many concerns about the leadership in his platoon. Bowe thought the leadership in his platoon was in such disarray that he believed his fellow soldiers were in danger. Bowe was a private first class which is a low ranking soldier, and he felt he would not be heard if he reported his superiors. Bowe thought this would be his was of making a point. Bowe admits part of the reason was that he wanted to prove himself to the world and be a super soldiers people admired and look up to. His decision may not have been the right way to achieve his goal. However, in the situation Bowe was in, his plan made the most sense to him. Most people can look back at something they now see as wrong, but in that moment and in that situation they did what felt right and the best move for them. What was the leadership like in Bowe’s platoon? Does he regret what he did? Did anything change in the leadership while he was captured or after he was released? Is anyone on Bergdahl’s side or can anyone confirm the state of leadership that Bowe was concerned about?
