Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

Marcus Luttrell

Jun 2007 · Sold by Little, Brown

About this ebook

Follow along a Navy SEAL's firsthand account of American heroism during a secret military operation in Afghanistan in this true story of survival and difficult choices.

On a clear night in late June 2005, four U.S. Navy SEALs left their base in northern Afghanistan for the mountainous Pakistani border. Their mission was to capture or kill a notorious al Qaeda leader known to be ensconced in a Taliban stronghold surrounded by a small but heavily armed force. Less then twenty-four hours later, only one of those Navy SEALs remained alive.

This is the story of fire team leader Marcus Luttrell, the sole survivor of Operation Redwing, and the desperate battle in the mountains that led, ultimately, to the largest loss of life in Navy SEAL history. But it is also, more than anything, the story of his teammates, who fought ferociously beside him until he was the last one left-blasted unconscious by a rocket grenade, blown over a cliff, but still armed and still breathing. Over the next four days, badly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell fought off six al Qaeda assassins who were sent to finish him, then crawled for seven miles through the mountains before he was taken in by a Pashtun tribe, who risked everything to protect him from the encircling Taliban killers.

A six-foot-five-inch Texan, Leading Petty Officer Luttrell takes us, blow by blow, through the brutal training of America's warrior elite and the relentless rites of passage required by the Navy SEALs. He transports us to a monstrous battle fought in the desolate peaks of Afghanistan, where the beleaguered American team plummeted headlong a thousand feet down a mountain as they fought back through flying shale and rocks.

In this rich, moving chronicle of courage, honor, and patriotism, Marcus Luttrell delivers one of the most powerful narratives ever written about modern warfare -- and a tribute to his teammates, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Ratings and reviews

I have no idea what took me so long to read this book, but thank God someone recommended it. I finished it under 72hours. The book chronicles what no ordinary man could do in a extraordinary test of limits of the mind and body. The book establishes the trials of what it takes to wear a trident and the limits these men are willing to go to to protect this country and ultimately each other. It pains me to read any review under the highest allowed. Some people will never understand the meaning of being elite. Something that many want, but very few will ever attain. The gasconade of just how elite the US Navy SEALs is ever present with Luttrell as I suspect it would be with anyone that endured such torture to wear that trident. Lest not forget that our author is from the great state of Texas. If you ever met anyone from Texas you would immediately know what tough, enduring and very proud Americans they truly are. They have principals and codes just like the very Pushtuns that are responsible for delivering Luttrell back into the hands of the US Armed forces. In saying that I fully expect a bit of pride in his Navy SEALs and by God he earned every right to say it whether you like it or not. Don't forget for a second that Marcus Luttrell is a operator by the very birth of him. Writers are writers because they sharpened their skills in college English classes and writing for some paper. Luttrell sharpened his writing skills at the bottom of some Texas lake, in the freezing Pacific, the back streets of Bagdad and into the Hindu Kush mountains. This is his story, his way not by some professors or writers code of doing. In that a high degree of respect should be afforded to him. It's an amazing story that I shared astonishment,anger,sadness,tears, and joy.

Navy Seals in real world s%&* !! n only one makes it home, this not fiction but real war, real threats, personnal sacrifice..Real men fighting for pay back ! N Wilfong sgt US Army 271st Avn 68-69 Vietnam/ USAF fire fighter Desert Storm /Desert Shield/Enduring Freedom under both bushes!!! ooooraaah. let liberals read n see what we do for YOUR FREEDOMS t'aint free ya know n heres proof FREEDOM AINT FREE ITS PAID WITH THE BLOOD OF THE FALLEN AND THE WOUNDED WARRIORS. I KNOW I AM ONE!! . I cried

I say to all the liberals who have an issue with military personale who make negative comments on your veiws, you go fight our wars. I bet your veiws will be quickly altered to fit your own personal safety. I'm sure all of you would want to shoot first before being shot. Round heads simply amaze me with all this equality crap they throw around. Give a terrorist the chance to shoot an american and he's not going to care if you even have a gun, let alone if you shot at him first.

About the author

Marcus Luttrell became a combat-trained Navy SEAL in 2002 and served in many dangerous Special Operations assignments around the world. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Lone Survivor and is a popular corporate and organizational speaker. He lives near Houston, Texas.

Patrick Robinson is known for his best-selling US Navy-based novels and his autobiography of Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward, One Hundred Days, was an international bestseller. He lives in England and spends his summers in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he and Luttrell wrote Lone Survivor.