SALT LAKE CITY — The Pentagon said Tuesday there is no decision to prosecute former Taliban prisoner Bowe Bergdahl for walking away from his U.S. Army unit in Afghanistan in 2009, but sources tell NBC News the Idaho native will be charged with desertion.

For a number of Utah veterans who fought in Afghanistan, the Bergdahl saga dredges up intense emotion.

"He's a coward," said one of two veterans who spoke to KSL on the condition of anonymity because of ISIS threats against American troops.

The Utah veterans did not pull their punches when talking about Bergdahl.

"He was not a POW," said the other veteran. "We knew that for a fact."

The veterans said they knew not long after Bergdahl disappeared that he had abandoned his post at his forward operating base in Afghanistan.

Talking about the episode and issues of desertion and prisoners of war stirs up anger in the veterans. They said they were trained not to surrender, and if captured, taught to escape or resist at all costs.

"I would rather kill myself than ever be captured by Taliban scum and ever risk turning over my brothers," one of the veterans said.

"We're not cowards: honor, courage and commitment. Courage for your country. Courage for your God. Courage for your service. Obviously, he (Bergdahl) didn't display any of that."

Military sources told NBC News Bergdahl will be charged with desertion for abandoning his combat post in Afghanistan and putting fellow soldiers at risk. The Pentagon says no decision has been made.

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Reports suggest Utah soldier was killed while searching for Bergdahl

SALT LAKE CITY — Amid allegations of desertion, there's word that a Utah soldier may have been killed while searching for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl five years ago.

Six soldiers died during the search for Bergdahl. He was a Taliban prisoner five years and was exchanged for five Taliban leaders last year.

The Utah veterans said had Bergdahl truly been a POW, he would have tried to escape, and failing that, would have likely been beheaded.

"There's no reason the Taliban is going to keep this guy alive, or take him."

The veterans said Bergdahl's story is personal and tears at their sense of patriotism. They believe calling Bergdahl a POW demeans the torture and deprivation American POWs endured in every war.

"I lost a lot of friends over there, a lot of friends fighting to not get captured."

They were fighting for their comrades and fighting for innocent people, the veterans said.

If Bergdahl is charged, he could make a deal and plead guilty. The Utah veterans believe Bergdahl deserves the ultimate punishment.

"The sole punishment for desertion during wartime is death, and I hope he gets it — I honestly do."

Sources tell NBC News Bergdahl could get 20 years in prison. But he could also get much less if he leaves the Army and gives up $300,000 in back pay.

"We do not negotiate with terrorists. This is what happens."

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