Daily Mail - Bowe Bergdahl's Platoon-Mate Testifies Before Congress That he Should Face Eight Criminal Charges Including Desertion

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A member of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's platoon during his deployment in Afghanistan told a congressional panel on Wednesday that he should be tried in a military court on eight separate criminal charges.

Cody Full, who served with Bergdahl and has become an outspoken critic of the Idaho native's actions beginning in 2009, said in a joint hearing of two House Armed Services subcommittees that Bergdahl 'intentionally deserted' his unit before his capture.

In addition to a desertion charge that could theoretically bring the death penalty, Full said Bergdahl should face trial for disrespecting his superior officers, disobeying orders, insubordination and willfully disobeying superior officers.

He should also be charged with 'misbehavior before the enemy' and 'misconduct' as a prisoner, Full said, along with 'missing movement' -- a military term that applies to servicemen and women who knowingly fail to show up with their units move from place to place.

In emotional testimony, the former soldier said he disagreed with the Obama administration's decision to trade five high-value Taliban terrorists for Bergdahl's safe return.

The president, he suggested, misapplied what he has called a central rule of American military might.

'It was always "Leave no honorable man behind",' Full said, 'not "leave no man behind".'

Later during questioning, he added that Bergdahl 'wasn't left behind. He left us.'

'Combat is difficult,' the former squad leader said. 'The only thing you can count on in combat is the commitment of your fellow American. Knowing that someone you needed to trust deserted you in war and did it of his own free will is the ultimate betrayal.'

Open questions about Bergdahl's honor were the order of the day on Wednesday.

Full took a shot at National Security Adviser Susan Rice for her now-infamous comments during a June 1 ABC broadcast.

'Bowe Bergdahl should not be characterized as having served with honor and distinction,' he testified.

Texas Republican Rep. Randy Weber made a blistering opening statement in which he claimed that America 'got one conventional weapon' in the prisoner swap, and 'some would say it's a dud.'

The enemy, however, 'got five nuclear weapons.'

'Mr. President,' Weber boomed, 'please stop negotiating for us!'

Later in the hearing, Weber asked Full what he would tell President Obama about the Bergdahl controversy, if he had the chance.

First grimacing, then smiling, Full said, 'I'm not gonna answer that.'

Andy Andrews, whose son Darryn died in 2009 searching for Bergdahl, testified that the U.S. Air Force misled him and his wife about the circumstances of their son's death.

'They told us that he died searching for a high-value Taliban commander,' he testified. 'Bergdahl was never mentioned.'

He learned the truth, he said, 'last Saturday.'

Andrews, too, slammed the Obama administration for making the May 31 deal to retrieve Bergdahl.

'It was a victory, propaganda-wise, for the Taliban,' he said. 'They won.'

Andrews later said that 'if my son was a deserter,' he wouldn't want the U.S. to lose five Taliban prisoners to bring him home.

'But my son,' he said, tears welling, 'was a man of honor.'

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