Obama reassures Idaho family about efforts to free soldier son

BOISE – White House officials say President Barack Obama has reached out to the parents of an American prisoner of war to assure them that military leaders are doing everything in their power to free him from his captors in Afghanistan.

Bob Bergdahl told the Associated Press on Thursday through a spokesman that the family is now confident that everything that can be done to return their son is being done. Bergdahl is the father of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl of Hailey, Idaho, the only U.S. prisoner of war from the Afghan conflict.

Obama contacted Bergdahl’s parents on Memorial Day weekend, weeks after they expressed frustration that the U.S. government wasn’t doing enough.

Bob Bergdahl said the president’s call reassured the family that his son’s freedom is of highest priority.

An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Obama called the Bergdahls.