{"id":31452,"date":"2017-10-25T16:45:34","date_gmt":"2017-10-25T16:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/25\/navy-seal-recalls-firefight-wounds-in-search-for-bergdahl\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:36:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:36:16","slug":"navy-seal-recalls-firefight-wounds-in-search-for-bergdahl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/2017\/10\/25\/navy-seal-recalls-firefight-wounds-in-search-for-bergdahl\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy SEAL recalls firefight, wounds in search for Bergdahl"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RALEIGH, N.C. \u2014 A former Navy SEAL cried Wednesday as he testified about a military dog killed on a mission with him to find Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who walked away from his post in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy SEAL, who suffered a career-ending injury during that mission, testified at Bergdahl\u2019s sentencing hearing. Bergdahl pleaded guilty last week to desertion and endangering his comrades. He faces up to life in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the hearing got underway, an Army judge said he was still considering a motion by the defense to dismiss the case. The defense has argued that President Donald Trump\u2019s comments about Bergdahl prevent him from having a fair sentencing hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wounded SEAL, retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch, entered the courtroom with a limp and a service dog named Mina. He was largely stoic and spoke in measured tones except for several times when he talked about the slain military dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatch said the dog helped protect his team by locating enemy fighters after the SEALs lost sight of them in a chaotic situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHis name was Remco,\u201d Hatch said as his voice cracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake your time,\u201d said the prosecutor, Army Maj. Justin Oshana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatch said his team\u2019s helicopters came under fire as they landed in an area near the Pakistan border where they had information on Bergdahl\u2019s possible whereabouts. He said the mission was hastily planned, and their only objective was the Bergdahl search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remco was leading them through a field when the dog located two enemy fighters that the team had seen at a distance. Hatch said the fighters sprayed AK-47 bullets at them, killing the dog. He was hit in the leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI screamed a lot. It hurt really bad … I thought I was dead,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatch said he believes he would have died if a comrade hadn\u2019t quickly applied a tourniquet. Hatch has subsequently had 18 surgeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He now runs a nonprofit dedicated to the care and support of military and law enforcement dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prosecutors are expected to call more witnesses in the afternoon to discuss the search missions and resulting wounds to multiple soldiers. The judge, Army Col. Jeffery Nance, ruled those injuries would not have happened had Bergdahl, 31, not endangered his comrades in 2009 by walking away from his post.<\/p>\n\n\n\t