Watching, praying for soldier's safety

TIERRA VERDE - Captured Army Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl has supporters across the country and here in the Bay Area praying for his safe return. Former POW William Allen understands some of what the 23-year-old soldier is going through.

From his home in Tierra Verde, Allen shared war stories with FOX 13. The memories are so daunting, so grim, it's hard to really grasp the nightmare he lived.

Allen was captured New Year's Day 1951, and for 31 months, he was a prisoner of war at Camp Five in North Korea, where the weather conditions alone were brutal.

"50 percent of the camp died the first winter. We buried over 1600 the first winter," said Allen, who is now 77.

Allen still has the letter to his parents, delivering the news that their 18-year-old son in the Army was missing in action.

"You never know what they're going to do. Your whole world just flashes by you in a second," Allen said.

Allen is hoping for the best for Bergdahl, captured three weeks ago in Afghanistan.

"Of course, we are very concerned for his safety and we're doing everything we can to get him back to his unit, to his family unharmed," said Lt. Commander Christine Sidenstricker, spokeswoman for the U.S. military.

The Taliban released video of Bergdal. He appears in good condition.

"You can see that he's clean shaven, he's got a meal, his clothes are clean, but you have no idea what they do when they turn those lights out for the camera," Allen reminded.

Allen's captors beat him over an ID bracelet his father gave to him. The captors wanted it, but Allen refused to hand it over. Allen says it's a game of survival.

"No matter what that young man says or how he says it or who he says it to, that is his way of coping with his survival," he said.

In the video, Bergdahl gives the date as July 14th.

"At least his family knows that that young man is alive. As long as you know he's alive, you never give up hope," Allen said.

He was freed August 1953. He crossed The Bridge of No Return, Camp Five behind him.

"I saw an American flag and I just grabbed the flag and I wrapped myself up in it," Allen said of when he returned to the United States. His time as a POW brought many medals and headlines, but most importantly, a hero's perspective.

Allen returned home to Michigan. He later retired from Ford Motor Company and wrote a book about the Korean War. It's called "My Old Box of Memories."