Proud to be an American | Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of...

Fighting and Dying: For Country and Friends | Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 | Marcus Luttrell

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	• Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 Marcus Luttrell Back Bay Books, 2008 - 416 pages average customer review:based on 782 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

My Country and the Lone Star State...

"Lone Survivor" is a terrific tale of terrible hardship, fear, heroism and a refusal to give up, physically or morally. We are given a front row seat as to SEAL training and indoctrination and, then, we see these things in action against incredible odds. The reader comes to realize that SEAL training is not so much about physical hardening--as a matter of fact, much of SEAL training probably weakens hard bodies--as it is about finding those very few men who will seldom, if ever, give up when in impossible situations.

This is basically what we see in the combat phase of this story. Four SEALs are assaulted by 200 or more Taliban on steep, virtually impossible terrain. The Taliban aren't wimps. They are dedicated Jihadists willing to take casualties. Take casualties they do but during the course of a confused, hours long, verticle battle, they succeed in killing three of the SEAL team and badly injuring and shooting up the fourth [Luttrell]. Miraculously Lutrrell survives by throwing himself multiple times down clifflike hillsides and, even more miraculously, always comes up with his rifle, managing to kill and wound more of the enemy.

Broken, battered and wounded Luttrell is finished to be resuced by friendly Afghans who decide to give him the blood-oath sanctuary of their protection. The Taliban nevertheless try to take him away and execute him but the tribal chieftain will have none of it. He not only protects Luttrell but the old man singlehandedly walks to a U.S. base and tells them of Luttrell's presence. Luttrell is rescued but we wonder about the fate of his rescuers.

Unfortunately, the cost of an earlier resuce attempt is a helicopter, full of elite troops, downed with the loss of all hands. Only one criticism I can level at the story. The detail is, perhaps, a little too good. The vast majority of individuals going through a Luttrell-type experience would simply block part of it. The pain, fear, disorientation and shock while falling and wounded tend to play hovoc with memory...but...perhaps SEALS, by nature and training, remember...

Incidentally, I quite agree with Luttrell about the miserable and biased U.S. press. I also agree that our 'rules of engagement', generally speaking, are articles for defeat. I also disapprove of sending military attorneys [political commissars] into combat situations to approve or disapprove of the legal 'correctness' of a military action.

Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

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Proud to be an American

I bought 4 of these books and gave them as gifts so that my friends could see that the courage displayed at Mt Surabachi Iwa Jima still exists today. I was spellbound throughout the entire narrative. Also, I remembered how outraged I was when I first heard of the loss of 15 SEALS in a RESCUE mission three years ago. High brass didnt make the decision to GO, SEAL Team 10 did. My heart goes out to all the families. I encourage the World to read this book. Americans will feel a cold chill and our enemies will know.
Now, I am amazed of the memory and courage of Carlos Hathcock, you the reader imagine 4 fighting Hathcock's enaging an entire company of Taliban. Be proud you are an American.
Mike

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Fighting and Dying: For Country and Friends

Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor of a clandestine military operation by Seal Team 10 in remote Afghan mountains, decided to tell this story because he heard someone who was not there had the same plans. It was the largest loss of life in SEAL team history but Marcus wanted to honor the memory of his teamates; Danny, Shane, James, Axe and Mikey. What results is a totally gripping story of courage and heroism against insurmountable odds, infused with surprising morality and sacrifice by Americans and Afghans.

Extremely well written, captivating and moving, Luttrell takes the reader back to his own decision to join the SEALs, the arduous training and the unique camaraderie that develops within the SEAL team. He describes the modern day warrior mystique and the bullet proof mentality that results. Necessary ingredients in the type of soldier capable of answering the call when missions like Operation Redwing are in order. "That's my kind of stuff. Backs to the wall. Never give in. Courage, risks, daring beyond compare".

In a very intimate way, Marcus helps you to know his teamates as if you had met them or briefly been part of the team. Their individuality, hopes, plans, dreams and family connections. There is no better way he could have accomplished the goal of paying honor and tribute to each of them. "Danny, Shane, James, Axe, Mikey and Marcus. Here on business, trained to the minute, armed to the teeth and all set to drive the armies of the Taliban and al Qaeda right out of the mountains".

Not long into their mission, the team is discovered by goat herders. Unarmed civilians. To preserve the mission's integrity and their safety they should have killed them but they take a vote, which results in their release. Within an hour the team is under fire from nearly 100 Taliban fighters from which only Marcus survives. They fought relentlessly for each other's survival, never giving in or assuming that they could not overcome.

Marcus had been the deciding vote for their release and now, nearly every waking hour of his life since, Marcus thinks of that fateful decision. "No night passes when I don't wake in a cold sweat thinking of those moments on that mountain. I'll never get over it. I cannot get over it. The deciding vote was mine and it will haunt me till they rest me in an East Texas grave". Marcus went to the families of each of his fallen brothers and described their courage and heroism. He also went back to active duty and served until very recently.

This story is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Luttrell's ache over his fallen comrades is palpable. Yet, meeting these extraordinary individuals is absolutely inspiring. Their dedication to each other, to the mission, to the SEALs and to our country will improve your patriotism and your confidence in the calibre of our brave military personnel.

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Hardcore! Brought a tear to my eye

This is a damn good book. Not so good if you're looking for TTP's but a very good story about some very tough men.

The first half of the book is all about how tough SEALS are, how great the SEALS are, and just how bob bitchin' the SEALS are. I really, really got sick of hearing how tough, cool, patriotic and elite the SEALS are. You would think there were no other warriors in the world. The author goes way overboard emphasizing this and I really got tired of it. OK, SEALS invented water, walked on it, then turned it into wine. Holy smokes how about a little humility?

When the authors aren't full of themselves, the details of BUDS and how physically exhausting it is, is pretty good.

The Book really takes off about halfway through, when the gunfight starts. It took me about a week to get to that part, then read the second half in a day. I couldn't put it down and when his team mates started dying it made me really, really sad. The authors did a great job of putting you there and make you feel for these guys that are dying in a far off foreign land....

Overall this was a great book and would have got 5 stars from me if it were not for the overly redundant self ingratiation. Don't get me wrong, I have immense respect for the SEALS and they are great at what they do. Especially what these guys did, which was give their lives. I do believe in Esprit De Corps, but the book IS way over the top in that dept.

If you can get a cheap copy, definitely pick it up.

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Lone Survivor

Very good book. Everyone who wants to better understand who the Taliban are and what their objectives are should read this book. It is also an inspiring story of courage and the will to live against unbelieveably tough circumstances. I have added this author's name to the list of people I would like to meet someday.

Four US Navy SEALS departed one clear night in early July, 2005 for the mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border for a reconnaissance mission. Their task was to document the activity of an al Qaeda leader rumored to be very close to Bin Laden with a small army in a Taliban stronghold. Five days later, only one of those Navy SEALS made it out alive.

This is the story of the only survivor of Operation Redwing, SEAL fire team leader Marcus Luttrell, and the extraordinary firefight that led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history. His squadmates fought valiantly beside him until he was the only one left alive, blasted by an RPG into a place where his pursuers could not find him. Over the next four days, terribly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell crawled for miles through the mountains and was taken in by sympathetic villagers who risked their lives to keep him safe from surrounding Taliban warriors.

A born and raised Texan, Marcus Luttrell takes us from the rigors of SEAL training, where he and his fellow SEALs discovered what it took to join the most elite of the American special forces, to a fight in the desolate hills of Afghanistan for which they never could have been prepared. His account of his squadmates' heroism and mutual support renders an experience that is both heartrending and life-affirming. In this rich chronicle of courage and sacrifice, honor and patriotism, Marcus Luttrell delivers a powerful narrative of modern war.

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