After nearly five long years, the dramatic release of U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl happened near here.<br/> <br />In the hills of eastern Afghanistan on the Pakistan border.<br/> <br />The sole American prisoner of war held in Afghanistan was freed Saturday by U.S. special forces, in a prisoner swap for five Taliban militants held in Guantanamo, Cuba.<br/> <br />Once on board an American chopper, Bergdahl wrote a two-letter question: "S.F.?", meaning "Special Forces?"<br/> <br />"Yes, one of the special forces replied, "We've been looking for you for a long time."<br/> <br />That's when Bergdahl broke down crying.<br/> <br />His ordeal was finally over.<br/> <br />Bergdahl's freedom suddenly became possible, U.S. officials said, after harder-line factions of the Afghan Taliban shifted course in recent weeks, and agreed to back his release.<br/> <br />This, after years of on again/off again talks between the U.S. and Taliban.<br/> <br />U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, speaking to reporters on Sunday:<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (
