Family urges captive Idaho soldier to be strong

After the U.S. military obtained new video apparently made by those holding the lone American prisoner of war, his family released a statement encouraging the Idaho soldier:

“Today we learned that a new video of our son, U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, has been distributed by his captors,” they wrote in a statement released by the Idaho National Guard on Wednesday. “Naturally, this is very important to us and our resolve to continue our efforts to bring Bowe home as soon as possible. As we have done so many times over the past four and a half years, we request his captors to release him safely so that our only son can be reunited with his mother and father. BOWE — If see this, continue to remain strong through patience. Your endurance will carry you to the finish line. Breathe!”

Bergdahl’s family last year received a letter from him via the Red Cross.

A U.S. military official told CNN the clip shows the Hailey, Idaho, native in diminished health from the effects of close to five years in captivity.

He was seized in Afghanistan in June 2009 and is believed held by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in Pakistan, the official said.

The so-called proof-of-life video, the first of him in nearly three years, has a reference to Dec. 14, 2013.

CNN has not seen the video.

U.S. efforts to free Bergdahl, including negotiating for his release, have so far failed.

“Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been gone far too long, and we continue to call for and work toward his safe and immediate release,” a Pentagon spokesman said.

“We cannot discuss all the details of our efforts, but there should be no doubt that on a daily basis — using our military, intelligence and diplomatic tools — we work to see Sgt. Bergdahl returned home safely,” the spokesman said.

Bergdahl was 23 when he was captured after finishing a guard shift at a combat outpost in southeastern Paktika province.

The U.S. government acknowledged in May 2012 that it was engaged in talks with the Taliban to free Bergdahl.

The discussions moved in fits and starts because of U.S. concerns that any Taliban prisoners swapped for Bergdahl might be repatriated and allowed to rejoin the fight.

Later that year, however, the White House announced it was willing to send five Taliban prisoners to Qatar in exchange for Bergdahl.