Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 | 
 enlarge | Author: Marcus Luttrell
Creator: Patrick Robinson
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Category: Book
List Price: $15.99
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Rating:  786 reviews
Sales Rank: 641
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2
ISBN: 0316067601
Dewey Decimal Number: 958.1047
EAN: 9780316067607
ASIN: 0316067601
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
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Product Description
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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| Customer Reviews: Read 781 more reviews...
 Sorry, but I call BS! December 4, 2008
Ok, I'll probably get flamed for this but let me play the devil's advocate here. Many call this story unbelievable and I really think it is. Remember...he is the LONE survivor...that means he can write anything he wants and nobody would know any better. Here's what makes me question his version of events.
The compromise of the mission. Ok, I've heard this story a few too many times before. Did he read "Bravo Two Zero" or see the movie by any chance? Well, it's about a SAS team that gets compromised behind enemy lines by, guess what, a goat shepherd. Well, they decide not to kill him and end up in a world of hurt. Sounds familiar? There is also a very similar story about a Special Forces "Scud Hunter" team being compromised by playing children with the same result. Not saying this can't happen again but it just sounds sooo familiar. Anyway...why does he insist that the only two options were to kill them or let them go and be screwed? How about binding them, stuffing their mouths to buy a little time and getting the hell out of dodge? The mission has been compromised regardless, only thing left to do is to exfiltrate in a hurry. Instead, they let them go and wait...for 30 minutes or more if I recall correctly...doing nothing. Didn't they have a Sat Phone that miraculously worked later? Ok, lets say all this happened, do you really think they sat around and took votes? Do you really think they sat around and discussed what the "liberal" media would think? Come on! Does nobody else think something doesn't sound right? I am by no means a liberal but I got tired really quickly of him blaming everything on the ROE and the liberals. Of course, this is a wonderful story for all the neocons that are just eating it up.
He is the only one that really knows what happened and I don't believe the story as it is written. Whatever happened, he'll have to live with it for the rest of his life. I have the utmost respect for the military, especially the Special Operations community and I think he is doing them a disservice but profiting from this tragedy and using the story to tell us about his political views. To all the brave men that died in this failed operation...R.I.P. Whatever exactly went wrong that day we'll likely never know but I agree that all involved are/were true heroes. Even the Lone Survivor.
 Read it and live December 1, 2008
It is a time when being patriotic is a dirty word. Fewer and fewer people are nationalistic like the previous generation was. Today the word in vogue is global. The new economy is forming rapidly with a new world goverment in the wings. With men like Marcus Latrell in our service, it gives the patriotic remnant a reason to still be proud of our country.
This book effected every area of my life and motivated me to live a life worthy of God and my country. And yes I do believe in miracles Marcus, You needed to tell your story. God bless you.
John Casey
"Good Ta Go" even for a "squid"... November 30, 2008
Never mind the title of my review. Just a little "dogging" from an old Marine grunt(1983-87). I found the book to be awesome and I usually only read non-fictions concerning the Marines in Vietnam. This book changed all of that . You can't put it down, once you've started.
At times, the author may seem to be a little overboard in his SEAL gung-ho's, but who am I to say that they don't brag a little too much. I was around a few Force Recon guys who never bragged, but I've never been around any SEAL (that I was aware of, that is...)
If the crowd that showed up at his parents home to support his family during his MIA status was as large as the author describes (which I did find to be a little hard to believe), then being a part of the SEAL brotherhood is something to be VERY proud of.
Once again, I found the book to be outstanding, and would recommend it to any veteran and non-veteran alike, no matter what branch of service.
Max Roark
Wpn's Co., 1/6
USMC 1983-87
OUT-FREAKIN-STANDING!!! November 29, 2008
this book is a must read for anyone who is currently in the military or anyone who just likes reading about it. i also encourage the media and any liberals towards this novel as well. Marcus is just incredible! thee greatest book i have ever read, a real privelage!
Fighting and Dying: For Country and Friends November 25, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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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