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Pictured: Bowe Bergdahl's father without the beard and ponytail he grew during his son's five-year Taliban captivity
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The father of Bowe Bergdahl is seen here for the first time without the long beard and ponytail he grew while his son was held by the Taliban for five years before his controversial release.Bob Bergdahl, 55, raised a few eyebrows when he stood next to President Obama during his announcement of Bergdahl's release at a White House press conference at the end of May.
But today – more than six weeks after his son's release - Bob was clean-shaven as he left a bike repair shop where he works in his hometown of Hailey, Idaho.
In these exclusive photos Bob worked on a bike outside the repair shop and yesterday was picked up by wife Jani and donned sunglasses and a baseball cap.
But Bob's new look can't mask an apparent family rift. Astonishingly, it emerged that Bergdahl has refused to speak with his parents since he was released from captivity in Pakistan six weeks ago. And today the POW's lawyer refused to say whether he had any plans to return to his hometown.
An army official reportedly told the Wall Street Journal that the sergeant has refused to see his parents in person or even speak to them on the phone, suggesting 'a deeper estrangement between the soldier and his parents than the military understood when he was released'.
The precise cause of the estrangement isn't known, but if true it must come as a bitter blow to Bob who dedicated his life to bringing Bowe home.
Bob had been growing the facial hair ever since his son was kidnapped by Taliban warlords in Afghanistan in 2009.
Bob – who dedicated his life to finding Bowe – vowed not to shave until his son returned home safely and the beard became a symbol of his quest.
Sgt Bergdahl had been held captive by the Haqqani Network for five years before he was released to U.S. Special Forces in May as part of a prisoner swap.
Under that deal, Bergdahl was set free in exchange for the release of five Taliban detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
The White House quickly hailed Bergdahl's release as a victory but the matter soon became embroiled in controversy as lawmakers complained they weren't given sufficient notice of the planned swap and warned of national security risks of releasing leading Taliban figures.
To add to the fallout several former members of Bergdahl's platoon branded him a deserter and a traitor and said other soldiers had given their lives trying to rescue them.
Bergdahl now faces a military investigation into the circumstances that led to him being taken captive.
Bergdhal returned to active duty on Monday after finishing an intensive debriefing and therapy program at a military hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
Bob, a former UPS driver, has worked tirelessly advocating for his son over the past five years while he was held by the Taliban.
He learned the Pashto language, read in to the history of the Taliban and grew his beard in order to better communicate with them.
'Bowe has been gone so long, it’s going to be very difficult to come back,' he warned a few days after his son’s release. 'If he comes up too fast, it could kill him.'
It was widely assumed that they would reunite after he returned to the United States and Bergdahl would be welcomed home to Hailey amid fanfare and open arms.
But today – more than six weeks after his son's release - Bob was clean-shaven as he left a bike repair shop where he works in his hometown of Hailey, Idaho.
In these exclusive photos Bob worked on a bike outside the repair shop and yesterday was picked up by wife Jani and donned sunglasses and a baseball cap.
But Bob's new look can't mask an apparent family rift. Astonishingly, it emerged that Bergdahl has refused to speak with his parents since he was released from captivity in Pakistan six weeks ago. And today the POW's lawyer refused to say whether he had any plans to return to his hometown.
An army official reportedly told the Wall Street Journal that the sergeant has refused to see his parents in person or even speak to them on the phone, suggesting 'a deeper estrangement between the soldier and his parents than the military understood when he was released'.
The precise cause of the estrangement isn't known, but if true it must come as a bitter blow to Bob who dedicated his life to bringing Bowe home.
Bob had been growing the facial hair ever since his son was kidnapped by Taliban warlords in Afghanistan in 2009.
Bob – who dedicated his life to finding Bowe – vowed not to shave until his son returned home safely and the beard became a symbol of his quest.
Sgt Bergdahl had been held captive by the Haqqani Network for five years before he was released to U.S. Special Forces in May as part of a prisoner swap.
Under that deal, Bergdahl was set free in exchange for the release of five Taliban detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
The White House quickly hailed Bergdahl's release as a victory but the matter soon became embroiled in controversy as lawmakers complained they weren't given sufficient notice of the planned swap and warned of national security risks of releasing leading Taliban figures.
To add to the fallout several former members of Bergdahl's platoon branded him a deserter and a traitor and said other soldiers had given their lives trying to rescue them.
Bergdahl now faces a military investigation into the circumstances that led to him being taken captive.
Bergdhal returned to active duty on Monday after finishing an intensive debriefing and therapy program at a military hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
Bob, a former UPS driver, has worked tirelessly advocating for his son over the past five years while he was held by the Taliban.
He learned the Pashto language, read in to the history of the Taliban and grew his beard in order to better communicate with them.
'Bowe has been gone so long, it’s going to be very difficult to come back,' he warned a few days after his son’s release. 'If he comes up too fast, it could kill him.'
It was widely assumed that they would reunite after he returned to the United States and Bergdahl would be welcomed home to Hailey amid fanfare and open arms.
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