[NYTimes] FORT BRAGG, N.C. ‐ Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who walked off his base in eastern Afghanistan in 2009, setting off a huge military manhunt and a political furor, pleaded guilty on Monday to desertion and to endangering the American troops sent to search for him...It will now be up to an Army judge here at Fort Bragg to decide the sergeant's punishment, following testimony at a hearing that is scheduled to begin next week. The desertion charge carries a potential five-year sentence, and the charge of endangering troops; formally known as misbehavior before the enemy; carries a potential life sentence.In a military courtroom here on Monday morning, Sergeant Bergdahl stood before the judge, Col. Jeffery A. Nance, and described his [Bergdahl's] actions as inexcusable.....
After he [Bergdahl] was freed [in exchange for 5 hard core terrorists], President Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, said Sergeant Bergdahl, who was promoted while in captivity, had served with "honor and distinction," and Mr. Obama appeared with his parents at the White House...
[a YouTube of this is here]