Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's father Bob Bergdahl promises prisoner-of-war son "will come home"

Bob Bergdahl, father of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, of Hailey, Idaho, who is being held captive in Afghanistan, speaks at the annual Rolling Thunder rally for POW/MIA awareness in Washington May 27, 2012. / AP Photo

(AP) WASHINGTON - The father of a U.S. soldier who was taken prisoner in Afghanistan thanked the motorcycle riders of Rolling Thunder on Sunday for raising awareness of missing-in-action troops and prisoners of war.

At the annual Rolling Thunder rally on the National Mall, Bob Bergdahl promised his son: "You will come home. We will not leave you behind."

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 26, of Hailey, Idaho, was taken prisoner in Afghanistan nearly three years ago. He is the subject of a proposed prisoner swap in which the Obama administration would allow the transfer of five Taliban prisoners long held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

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Bergdahl said he couldn't be happier with the government's efforts to return his son.

"This is a complicated issue and it's going to demand all aspects of American government. And we need joint cooperation, we need every level, every agency and every dimension of American government to cooperate and pay attention," he said. "We're on a mission to get our son home and we're not going to stop until we accomplish that."

Motorcyclists attending the ceremony wore yellow wristbands with Bergdahl's name and the date he went missing on them. Many also wore the traditional biker gear of leather vests and riding boots, even though temperatures reached the 90s.

Hundreds of thousands of bikers, including military veterans and non-veterans, gathered in the nation's capital this weekend for the Rolling Thunder rally.

[flipper55]

We were there in D.C. as he spoke and later lucky to meet him at the local V.A. VFW hall,It was a amazing story to hear and the idea that people are unaware of bowes capture is amazing, We are taking his story to Long Island Ny and telling everyone that will listen to us, We wear the yellow braclets everyday and will not forget him. We wish his family strength and hope the goverment knows were watching and waiting for good news.
Jamie n Lisa HD Riders/Long Island NY

[Gormo10020]

Bob and Jani,
I have always counted you as friends and as a friend I can say that I am NOT happy with the governments attempts to bring Bowe home. If Bowe had been the presidents' kid this ordeal would have been over with within a year... that is a fact. I pray for Bowe often, and I pray that soon you all will be taking a hike up the hill... together! God Bless ya'.
Norm Miller

[gtevis]

Bob and Jani...my thoughts and prayers are with you and Bowe every day. This situation has weighed heavily on my heart for the last several years. I hope and pray and feel his deliverance is near. Peace be with you and Bowe and your family. I have had tight ties to Idaho as my son, Aaron has been at Boise State for the past 4.5 years and just finished up. We have been up there often and always think of you guys (whether in Idaho or here in Tucson). Hang in there. Your Solvang/Santa Ynez friend....Greg Tevis

[Harleydrider]

IM kinda wandering if Seal team six could take out Osama then you would think they could get the sgt. Recovered

[spitbucketbaptismo]

Dear Bob Bergdahl:
Your son is not forgotten. Not by the American people. However, it certainly seems as if Sgt. Bergdahl has been forgotten by US military and the Obama administration. The public face of US diplomacy, the Madam SecState Clinton, more than likely finds Sgt. Bergdahl as the expendable pawn. My conclusion only.
What is being done to get Sgt. Bergdahl's release? Answers, Mr. Panetta and/or Hillary?

[democracy8]

Not trying to be rude, but did you even bother to read the article?

"Bergdahl said he couldn't be happier with the government's efforts to return his son."