Lone+Survivor+Review


 * __Lone Survivor__**

__Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10__ was written by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robbins, Marcus was the only SEAL to survive Operation Redwing. The publisher is Little, Brown and Company. The book was copyrighted for the year 2007. Marcus’ purpose for writing this book was to honor the fallen heroes of SEAL Team 10 and his closest friends. He does this very well in that not only does he explain their valiant acts on the battlefield, but he also gives the reader an idea of what kind of person they are by giving them some background and personalities of the individuals. Marcus was part of a four-man SEAL Team including Michael Murphy (Congressional Medal of Honor recipient), Danny Dietz, and Matthew Axelson. Michael Murphy being the Officer in Charge (OIC) led the team. They were hunting down a high ranking Al-Qaeda fighter who is nicknamed Sharmak in the book for security reasons. The book is very powerful and emotional. Marcus does an excellent job thoroughly describing the personalities of each team member and the bond that each of them had. This really brings the reader closer to the team members and gives them a sense of who they are. Throughout the mission they often make jokes with each other, even during battle they show a sense of humor and brotherhood. These are just some of the characteristics of a SEAL Team. The team’s mission was compromised when 3 goat herders including about a hundred plus goats stumbled upon their position. They held a vote to decide whether they spare their lives or eliminate them. The vote was to spare them, fearing that if they did eliminate them; the liberal media would somehow find out and call them cold blooded murderers. Nearly an hour later, two hundred plus Taliban fighters were just above their position on the mountain. Marcus and Patrick do such a great job with this book that I saw, in my opinion, no weaknesses. Marcus makes things personal between the reader and the team by explaining where the team members come from and describes their personalities. The person narrating is Marcus Luttrell. After all, he was the only SEAL to survive this furious battle. Operation redwing was the worst day in SOCOM (Special Operations Command) history. They lost a total of nineteen spec ops soldiers, three of them were part of the SEAL Team, the rest were a combination of Special Forces who were coming in on a helicopter, but were shot down by an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade). This book is a very easy read, with a little humor and some strong language. It drew me into it and kept me turning the pages, I never wanted to take a break. I highly recommend this book to every American and true patriot. Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell joined the Navy in March of 1999. He graduated from BUD/s (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALS) class 228 in January 2002. After Serving in Baghdad he was deployed into Afghanistan in the spring of 2005. After Operation Redwing he was redeployed to Baghdad SEAL Team 10. Later he was dismissed from the Navy. I am extremely infuriated and saddened to have found out one day when watching random youtube videos that there was an actual video of Operation Redwing recorded by the Taliban. They video tape all of their battles and post them up on their own generated websites, they then somehow get over to American media. The video captures the sky with some trees in the way, but in the background you here the battle between the 200 Taliban fighters and Marcus’ team in a fierce firefight. When I came upon this video, I clicked play to watch it. Throughout the video I was getting chills down my back and felt this anger deep within me. Just this sense of fury to know that such cowards like these Taliban would do such things. It is completely dishonorable to even have these kinds of videos posted on American websites which can be viewed by the public. After the firefight the video shows a Taliban fighter looting the dead bodies of Danny Dietz and who I believe is either Michael Murphy or Matthew Axelson. They then video tape another Taliban fighter showing off all the devices that Marcus and his team lost during the battle. They have all of their helmets, two assault rifles and some GPS and laptops. This video saddened me and made me want to get right into the battle and set things right. They are a cowardly and pathetic group of people who think that killing innocent people will please “Allah.” This is why I want to become a Navy SEAL and serve my country. Lone Survivor was not written for recognition or gratitude. This book was written to set the facts straight. To tell the story how it really was instead of the way the news described it. They bent it to however they pleased, setting facts way off. This book was written to honor America’s heroes, and Marcus’ closest friends. They made the ultimate sacrifice so that Americans can enjoy the most wonderful gift in the world, Freedom. One thing that has been with America since the day it was born. Men and women died for this right and protect its meaning, and it is up to us to continue doing so.

More info at [|Lone Survivor Interview Part I] [|Lone Survivor Interview Part II]