Many of our readers may have seen the movie “Lone Survivor”, starting Mark Walhberg as Marcus Luttrell. I have seen the movie twice and have cried both times. The movie depicts Operation Redwing, where four Navy Seals were dropped into a mountainous range to capture a high value target of the Taliban. The mission was not a success, and three of the Navy Seals were killed, with Luttrell surviving, but not without injuries.
Marcus Luttrell
From Luttrell’s Website:
Late in the night of June 27, 2005, two MH-47Special Operations Aircraft of the Army Special Operations Command’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (SOAR) approached Sawtalo Sar. As one of the aircraft performed a number of “decoy drops” to confuse any possible enemy on the ground as to the specific purpose of helicopters, the other inserted, via fastrope, a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team in a saddle between Sawtalo Sar and Gatigal Sar, a peak just to the south of Sawtalo Sar.
The insert point was roughly one and one half miles from the nearest Named Area of Interest. The team members were team leader Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT- 1); Petty Officer Second Class Danny P. Dietz from SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2 (SDVT-2); Petty Officer Second Class Matthew G. Axelson from SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT-1); and SO1 Marcus Luttrell, of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT-1).
Actual photo of the 4 Navy Seals from Operation Redwing
On June 28, 2005 after moving to a pre-determined, covered overwatch position, from which the SEALs could observe the Named Areas of Interest, the team was discovered by local goatherders. After determining that they were civilians, and not combatants, Lieutenant Murphy had them released, as was protocol in the area of operations at the time, according to rules of engagement. Within an hour, the SEAL Reconnaissance and Surveillance team was ambushed by Shah’s militia.
The ambush was intense, came from three sides, and included PK light Machine Gun fire, AK-47 fire, RPG-7 Rocket Propelled Grenade fire, and 82mm mortar fire. The ambush team forced the SEAL team into the northeast gulch. The SEALs made a number of attempts to contact their combat operations center. The team could not establish consistent communication, however, other than for a period long enough to indicate that they were under attack.
Three of the four team members were killed, and the only survivor, Marcus Luttrell, was left unconscious with a number of fractures, a broken back, numerous shrapnel wounds, and later a gunshot. He would soon regain consciousness and evade the pursuing enemy, with the help of local Pashtun villagers, who would eventually send an emissary to the nearest U.S. base to secure his safe release, and ultimately save his life.
A MH-47 helicopters, carrying eight Navy SEALs and eight 160th Nightstalkers, was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade shot through the open rear ramp, killing all on board.
Michael Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson and Marcus Luttrell were awarded the Navy Cross.
First, I must tell you that the movie is great. It is not for the faint of heart. There is graphic scenes and language. Luttrell returned to the United States to recover from his injuries sustained during Operation Redwing. He later wrote the book “Lone Survivor” and of course the movie by the same name was developed and released.
After watching the movie, I had read that Luttrell had gone on a tour promoting the book as well as the movie. He also began to give motivational speeches. What I didn’t know is that Luttrell returned to Service after healing from his wounds obtained during Operation Redwing. I was looking for a new book to read and found a book called “Service: A Navy Seal at War.” It was written by Marcus Luttrell. As I began the book, I realized that Luttrell returned overseas and was right back in the action again.
I don’t want to give away the plot of the books or any spoilers of the book in case someone wants to read it. Below is from the Amazon Website on the book:
Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell returned from his star-crossed mission in Afghanistan with his bones shattered and his heart broken. So many had given their lives to save him-and he would have readily done the same for them. As he recuperated, he wondered why he and others, from America’s founding to today, had been willing to sacrifice everything-including themselves-for the sake of family, nation, and freedom.
In Service, we follow Marcus Luttrell to Iraq, where he returns to the battlefield as a member of SEAL Team 5 to help take on the most dangerous city in the world: Ramadi, the capital of war-torn Al Anbar Province. There, in six months of high-intensity urban combat, he would be part of what has been called the greatest victory in the history of U.S. Special Operations forces. We also return to Afghanistan and Operation Redwing, where Luttrell offers powerful new details about his miraculous rescue. Throughout, he reflects on what it really means to take on a higher calling, about the men he’s seen lose their lives for their country, and the legacy of those who came and bled before.
Marcus Luttrell
A thrilling war story, Service is also a profoundly moving tribute to the warrior brotherhood, to the belief that nobody goes it alone, and no one will be left behind.
The book is an excellent read. We see that even though healed from his injuries of Operation Redwing, Luttrell still battles mental as well as physical aspects of the before listed operation. The book is graphic and is not for the faint of heart. I will go ahead and admit that there were some tears as I read this book.
So if you are looking for a book to read, try “Service: A Navy Seal at War.” I think you will like it. It is about a true American hero.
Marcus Luttrell and wife
Bobby Inman is retired from Law Enforcement after 21 years of Service. He is the Store Manager of Southern Heritage Gun & Pawn in Tuscumbia. He has articles published in Law & Order Magazine, Police Marksman Magazine, Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement Magazine as well as several published ebooks on Amazon, Kobo Writing, as well as Nook (Barnes & Noble). He is owner of Poopiedog, an Animal Rescue Dachshund, who is his constant companion. He is a Senior Investigative Reporter for the Quad Cities Daily. 
