( CNN ) -- Army Sgt . Bowe Bergdahl is aware of the controversy over the deal his country made with the Taliban to secure his release , and he 's thankful that his commander in chief acted to save his life , his attorney said Wednesday . `` Sgt . Bergdahl has had a close brush with death over a prolonged period of time . He understands that his life has been saved . He 's grateful to President Obama for doing that , '' Bergdahl 's attorney , Eugene Fidell , told CNN 's `` New Day . '' Bergdahl , released by the Taliban six weeks ago , recently retained Fidell amid the Army 's investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance and capture in Afghanistan in June 2009 . The Army has said he has yet to be interviewed by the officer investigating his case , and he returned to regular duty at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio , Texas , on Monday following weeks of counseling and medical care . The 28-year-old soldier spent five years in the hands of militants after he disappeared . He was released in late May in exchange for five senior Taliban members held by the U.S. military . Fidell said Bergdahl has `` gone through an extraordinary ordeal '' and `` lost five years in the most unspeakable way . '' `` The mind boggles when thinking about spending five years in the hands of the Taliban , '' Fidell said . `` Imagine your worst nightmare . That 's all I can say on that . `` Obviously the hope is that he can return to a normal life , and ... reintegrate properly within American society as well as the Army , and sort of get on with his life . '' Fidell said he could n't say much more about his conversations with Bergdahl , citing attorney-client privilege . Bergdahl venturing off base , rubbing elbows with public . The news of Bergdahl 's freedom initially was met with jubilation , which quickly changed as many called for an investigation into his disappearance and captivity . Some critics accused the soldier of deserting his comrades in war . An Army fact-finding investigation conducted in the months after Bergdahl disappeared concluded that he left his outpost deliberately and of his own free will , according to an official who was briefed on the report . The Army has no definitive finding that Bergdahl deserted because that would require knowing his intent -- something officials could n't learn without talking to the soldier , a U.S. military official told CNN . Fidell declined to answer CNN 's question about Bergdahl 's intent . Bergdahl back at work . Bergdahl spent his first day of regular duty working at the headquarters of U.S. Army North in Texas on Monday , the Army said . Like many soldiers at a new assignment , he spent much of his day getting paperwork straightened out , Army spokesman Don Manuszewski said . He began his job with a unit responsible for homeland defense , civil support operations and security cooperation programs involving countries such as Canada , Mexico and the Bahamas . He will eventually be given a position commensurate with his rank of sergeant . The army spokesman has said that Bergdahl would be assigned a desk job . Bergdahl lives on base , in a two-bedroom unit in noncommissioned officers ' quarters . `` He 's just another soldier in the U.S. Army , '' Manuszewski said . Two soldiers are helping him adjust to life at Fort Sam Houston . Bergdahl was a private first class when he was captured , and the Army extended his enlistment and twice promoted him on schedule while he was in captivity . Manuszewski would n't say how much longer Bergdahl 's enlistment would last , and he did n't comment on the investigation . Army general to start investigating how , why Bergdahl left base . CNN 's Martin Savidge and Steve Almasy contributed to this report .
Army Sgt . Bowe Bergdahl is `` grateful to President Obama , '' his lawyer says . The Army is investigating the circumstances of his 2009 capture in Afghanistan . Bergdahl was released after a U.S. deal with the Taliban in May . The sergeant is back to work at the headquarters of a unit based in San Antonio .