After nearly five long years, the dramatic release of U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl happened near here.
In the hills of eastern Afghanistan on the Pakistan border.
The sole American prisoner of war held in Afghanistan was freed Saturday by U.S. special forces, in a prisoner swap for five Taliban militants held in Guantanamo, Cuba.
Once on board an American chopper, Bergdahl wrote a two-letter question: "S.F.?", meaning "Special Forces?"
"Yes, one of the special forces replied, "We've been looking for you for a long time."
That's when Bergdahl broke down crying.
His ordeal was finally over.
Bergdahl's freedom suddenly became possible, U.S. officials said, after harder-line factions of the Afghan Taliban shifted course in recent weeks, and agreed to back his release.
This, after years of on again/off again talks between the U.S. and Taliban.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, speaking to reporters on Sunday:
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