Idaho Soldier Captured By Taliban

(Click on the image above to watch a report about this situation.)-

HAILEY, Idaho (AP) - Almost since the news two weeks ago that a U.S. soldier had been captured in Afghanistan, a small circle of people in this central Idaho town of 7,000 have known it was one of their own: a local family's only son who was home-schooled here, danced at the local ballet school and rode his bike everywhere, was in the hands of the Taliban.

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The 23-year-old Bergdahl was serving with a unit based in Fort Richardson, Alaska, earlier this month when he vanished, just five months after arriving in Afghanistan, officials said. He was serving at a base near the border with Pakistan in an area known to be a Taliban stronghold.

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Only after Saturday's Internet airing of a 28-minute video in which Bergdahl is shown captive and says he fears never going home again did DOD officials finally release his name.

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"The Department of Defense has always thought throughout this whole situation that we were going to do whatever we could possibly do with the safety of this soldier in mind," said Lt. Col. Tim Marsano, a spokesman for the Idaho National Guard. "Efforts to secure his return are the primary consideration."

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Personal Note:

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This weekend we recieved an email from a friend of ours in Idaho who provided the following prayer request:

"As you may have heard on the news a US soldier has been captured in Afghanistan. The US soldier and his family are very dear friends of ours. We are asking you to please forward this to anyone and everyone so that we can spread the word to pray for his safe return. The media has come out with his picture and there has been a video released by his captures. We have seen it and it appears as of July 14 he was alive and well. The family asks to please pray for him."

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Please be in prayer for Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl and his family.