In the summer of 2005, four US Navy SEALS, petty officers Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz and Marcus Luttrell, along with Lt. Michael Murphy, set out for the Hundu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan. Their mission was to track the activity of Ahmad Shah, an al Qaeda leader rumored to be commanding a small army of insurgents known as the "Mountain Tigers." Five days after an initially successful insertion, only one of the SEALS escaped with his life.
This is the story of the lone survivor of Operation Redwing, petty officer Marcus Luttrell, and the remarkable two hour battle that led to the greatest loss of life in the history of the Navy SEALS. Vastly outnumbered, Luttrell's three fellow SEALS were killed fighting bravely beside him. Badly hurt and presumed dead, but driven by thirst, Luttrell crawled for seven miles before finding shelter. He was discovered by sympathetic shepherds who provided him with food and medical attention, while risking their own lives to protect him from Taliban search parties.
Luttrell takes us from rigorous SEAL training, where soldiers discovered the demands of America's most elite fighting forces, to an ambush in the desolate mountains of Afghanistan which no combat training could have ever prepared them for. He recounts the story of his teammates' courage and honor, for which two of his fellow SEALS were posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. In this vivid, true story of sacrifice and bravery, patriotism and heroism, Luttrell shares a powerful account of modern warfare.
"Wow. I did not think I would like this book as much as I did. It's a very powerful re-telling of a series of incredibly difficult events, both physical and emotional. Marcus Luttrell is an amazing American hero, as are his fallen comrades. I highly recommend this book."
—
Liz (5 out of 5 stars)