July 19, 2009 | 6:26 pm

Praying for a captured US soldier

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

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Army Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 23, was serving in Afghanistan when he went missing this month. Yesterday he turned up in a propaganda video released by the Taliban. Now his small hometown of Haily, Idaho, is coming together and praying for Bergdahl’s safe release.

From the AP:

A sign hangs in the window of Zaney’s River Street Coffee House says “Get Bowe Back,” and a message inside asked customers to “Join all of us at Zaney’s holding light for our friend.”

Bergdahl’s family issued a statement asking people to keep the soldier in their thoughts and prayers, but told The Associated Press that the family was requesting media respect their privacy.

Neighbors and others in the community have known for weeks that Bergdahl had been captured, but said the family urged them not to talk about the kidnapping out of fear that publicity would compromise his safety. Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter told the AP that he had been working to keep the soldier’s name quiet until it was officially released.

In the video posted Saturday on a Web site pointed out by the Taliban, Bergdahl says his name and his hometown. The Pentagon confirmed his identity Sunday.

“We hope and pray for our son’s safe return to his comrades and then to our family, and we appreciate all the support and expressions of sympathy shown to us by our family members, our friends and others across the nation,” Bob Bergdahl, the soldier’s father, said in a statement issued through the Department of Defense.

Much more on Bergdahl and Haily here. Godspeed, soldier.

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