US News

Anger grows against freed POW in Idaho hometown

Allegations that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl deserted his Army outpost have turned many in his home state of Idaho against the freed POW, whose planned “welcome back” celebration was scrapped due to the controversy.

“I’m broken-hearted and disappointed in him. I think abandoning your troops is one of the worst things you can do, next to killing them,” Army veteran Jason Carey, of Pocatello, said.

Carey, who served in Bosnia and Iraq, said he was formerly a “big supporter” of Bergdhal and “bought a T-shirt that I wore proudly and gave money to his charity.”

“Now, I regret giving him the $20 and buying that shirt,” said Carey, 40. “I actually burned that shirt, I was so angry.”

Larry Bailey, 60, who lives in Bergdahl’s hometown of Hailey, said he was “part of the biker group that supported him every year.”

“I feel betrayed because the support that was shown to him and his family was unconditional, and now all this stuff comes out,” Bailey said.

Joyce Hass, who manages a liquor store in Hailey, said: “People are angry. Yesterday, I saw someone had torn down some of the yellow ribbons that were up.”

Joshua Bowen, of Hailey, blasted President Obama for freeing five Taliban terrorists to secure Bergdahl’s release.

“I love Bowe, and I love his family, but that was the worst thing we could’ve done,” Bowen said.