"He’s, at best, a deserter and at worst, a traitor”

Former Army soldier Josh Korder who served with Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl shed light on the circumstances surrounding Bergdahl’s capture Monday on CNN.

Korder confirmed to host Jake Tapper Bergdahl began to express anti-American sentiments while in Afghanistan. The late Michael Hastings reportedBergdahl emailed his parents prior to his capture conveying disgust for the U.S. military and their mission in the country.

Tapper asked Korder about the soldiers who died in search of Bergdahl and if it “made him angry” Bergdahl is now free.

“In a way it really does. It’s very frustrating to me to turn on the TV and to see Bergdahl’s family on the TV being shown to everyone and then these soldiers, although they had very beautiful and extravagant ceremonies after they died, were pretty much only recognized in the local news, local newspapers. They were never nationally televised for their sacrifices in the way that he is and he pretty much voluntarily walked away and in turn caused the actions that killed them,” Korder said.

The former Army soldier added he understands Bergdahl may need time to reacclimatize after his time in captivity, but he believes “[Bergdahl] needs to be questioned and basically tried, if necessary.”

“For leaving the observation post and for deserting the unit?” Tapper asked.

“Yes,” Korder replied. “Any of us would have died for him while he was with us and then for him to just leave us like that, it was a very big betrayal.”

Korder also expressed some reservation the military may retaliate against him and other soldiers who signed a nondisclosure agreement to not discuss anything pertaining to Bergdahl and his possible desertion. However, he said he did not believe he could “continue to go on” if the public considered Bergdahl a hero and did not know the truth.

“He’s, at best, a deserter an at worst, a traitor,” Korder said.