Defense Secretary Congratulates Team that Picked Up Captured Soldier

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met with more than a dozen members of the special operations team that participated in the rescue of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl , an American soldier held by the Taliban. Hagel and the special ops team met quietly in a separate part of a hangar where he also spoke to a large group of U.S. troops. According to a U.S. official, Hagel thanked them and told them they represented the true spirit of never leaving a comrade behind. They largely kept out of sight. But as the special operations forces walked past their body armor and occasional beards and less clean-cut looks made it evident who they were. Hagel told them that while they participated in an important mission they do many other jobs that often go unrecognized.