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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Officials at a military hospital in San Antonio are describing Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's first moments back in the United States following five years of captivity by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
They say Bergdahl was nervous but "looked good" and saluted a commanding officer who welcomed him home.
Bergdahl is said to be working daily with health professionals to regain a sense of normalcy and move forward with his life.
Bergdahl's family has not joined him since he arrived at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Army officials would not say when relatives might show up.
In a statement read at a news conference, Bergdahl's parents said they "are overjoyed that their son has returned to the United States" but are asking for privacy.
Officials say in the short time he has been back on U.S. soil, Bergdahl, who can walk on his own, has been on a bland diet and has shown a fondness for peanut butter.
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247-w-33-(Ed Donahue, AP correspondent, with General Joseph DiSalvo and Colonel Bradley Poppen)--Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl is settling in at a military facility in Texas after his arrival from Germany. The AP's Ed Donahue reports. (13 Jun 2014)
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226-a-15-(Colonel Bradley Poppen, Army psychologist, at news conference)-"it to him"-Col. Bradley Poppen says Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is not aware of the news media coverage of his capture and captivity. (13 Jun 2014)
<<CUT *226 (06/13/14)££ 00:15 "it to him"
224-a-09-(Army Major Gen. Joseph DiSalvo. chief of staff, U.S. Southern Command, at news conference)-"had good deportment"-General Joseph DiSalvo describes Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's appearance when he arrived in Texas early Friday morning. (13 Jun 2014)
<<CUT *224 (06/13/14)££ 00:09 "had good deportment"
227-a-09-(Col. Hans Bush, spokesman, Fort Sam Houston, at news conference)-"their son's reintegration"-Army spokesman Col. Hans Bush reads a statement from Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's family. (13 Jun 2014)
<<CUT *227 (06/13/14)££ 00:09 "their son's reintegration"
223-a-15-(Army Major Gen. Joseph DiSalvo. chief of staff, U.S. Southern Command, at news conference)-"this reintegration process"-General Joseph DiSalvo describes Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's condition. (13 Jun 2014)
<<CUT *223 (06/13/14)££ 00:15 "this reintegration process"
225-a-15-(Colonel Bradley Poppen, Army psychologist, at news conference)-"be functional now"-Army psychologist Col. Bradley Poppen says there is a process they need to go through to reintegrate Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to life after capitivity. (13 Jun 2014)
<<CUT *225 (06/13/14)££ 00:15 "be functional now"
APPHOTO TXDP106: Col. Bradley Poppen, left, answers a question during a news conference regarding Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, Friday, June 13, 2014, in San Antonio, Texas. Bergdahl, the Army sergeant who has been recovering in Germany after five years as a Taliban captive, returned to the United States early Friday to continue his medical treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Joining Poppen are U.S. Army South Commander Maj. Gen. Joseph P. DiSalvo, center, and Col. Ronald Wool. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (13 Jun 2014)
<<APPHOTO TXDP106 (06/13/14)££
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