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
Buy New: $9.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  697 reviews
Sales Rank: 90
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.3
ISBN: 0316067601
Dewey Decimal Number: 958.1047
EAN: 9780316067607
ASIN: 0316067601
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW
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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 692 more reviews...
 Inspiring, fantastic July 6, 2008
A friend recommended this book to me before I left on a recent vacation. He said it had meant so much to him that he planned to buy 20 copies to give to friends. I bought it and read it in 3 days. I'm very thankful for Marcus and his companions. I'm also thankful for all of our SEALs and those who train them. This book inspired me, not just as a person, but as an American. I'd recommend this story to all Americans.
A Tragic Loss That Did Not Have To Be July 5, 2008
The SAT phone used in an attempt to contact "HQ" for assistance was a Uridium SAT phone. The company went bankrupt in 1999 (try Google search); DOD funded in excess of 300 million dollars to "make the company work" because of the ongoing contracts with the Uridium company. It is well known, the SAT phone was poor and often did not function; the requirement to press in excess of 15 keys to connect made the task even more time consuming.
During Operation Anaconda, the SEAL team atop Takur Ghar could not connect to Bagram AB, but had to call the duty officer in Norfolk, VA. All this while taking fire.
In short, DOD contributed to the disaster by not providing these outstanding Americans with the communication required.
I know, because I used a Thuraya SAT phone during my time working in Paktia and Khwost Provinces in 2003. Others who had the Uridium SAT phone would constantly complain..and as such, would ask to use my SAT phone.
A tragic loss that did not have to happen..
 WHAT GUYS MUST DO TO BECOME A NAVY SEAL! July 3, 2008
A friend was reading this book and I picked it up at an airport lay-over having a friend who's son became a SEAL a few years ago.
The odds of completing this most rigorus training among ALL the servies and earning the priviledge of wearing the Navy Trident, are very unlikly.
This writer tells in page flipping detail what they must indure and those few who tolerate the unbelievable 24/7 punishment and make it past Hell Week probably will graduate. Sometimes less than 20% make it and these SEAL recruits are seasoned soldiers and most have made it through other demanding physical training including Rangers, Marine training ...some of the guys are even trying it for the second time! One comes away with the greatest respect and graditude for these Special Operations voluntered American Soldiers. No wonder they are respected around the world. Beyong True Grit.
WARNING, Keep in mind the title of the book "Eyewitness Account" July 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After reading some of the reviews of this book on Amazon, I think a lot of people fell into the same trap that I did. I purchased this book hoping for a 360 degree view of this incident (i.e. Black Hawk Down), with a story line of not only the 4 seals on the ground but more detail on how the mission got picked, what was the plan if they got into trouble, and more importantly what was going on behind the scenes as this thing fell apart and the call was made for help. I guess, like many people I was expecting an expanded view of the situation and everyone involved, but like the title of the book states this is "The Eyewitness Account...." of this event. So Luttrell was not an eyewitness to the stuff going on behind the scenes, and so his story is about what he actually experienced. I can say without a doubt you will be floored by what this guy and his team went through. I don't think Hollywood could make up a story this intense and horrific and not have us all say "Come on, one person could not have had all this happen to him". But it did happen and the fact that he survived this ordeal is absolutely amazing.
I must admit I had a problem reconciling that these 4 highly trained guys, would take time to rant about the liberal media while making such an important decision on top of the Hindu Kush, which ultimately sealed their fate. In the end it seems as though their own conscious and Christian fatih drove them to their decision and not the liberal media.
The second half of this book is 6 out of 5 stars, but the first half is 2-3 stars out of 5 (though you will have a bigger appreciation for the supermen these Seals are after reading about the training they go through). Which is why I gave it a 4 star rating.
For me and many others I think we were hoping for broader more researched view of the incident, but the book is not called "The Full Account of ...", it is called "Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of ...". So if you get through the first half of the book, the second half of the book is one of the most unbelievable stories of survival that I have ever read.
A riveting tale of heroism and survival July 2, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
What an amazing story. An absolute must-read for anyone interested in hearing first-hand account of soldiers and their experiences in afghanistan. I think it is an important reminder of the heroism and dedication of these soldiers.
Liberals who read this book are going to take issue with the author's stance on the media, ROE, and God. I'll just tell you that upfront. If you are not opposed to hearing the authors opinion on these subjects, then I think you may even end up liking the book.
He is so passionate and opinionated on these subjects that I think it may detract from the ability of the book to raise questions about how we are handling this war and the enemies we fight.
I find that this book - the SEALs experience, the moral dilemma they faced in the battlefield, and the consequences of their decision an important read for everyone - whether you agree with his politics or not.
I'm going to give away a bit of the story now, so if you don't want anything ruined, I suggest you stop reading right now.
There comes a turning point in their mission when they encounter three unarmed goat herders. They have a decision to make. Do they kill them right then and there and face the consequences at home, or do they let them go and risk the herders telling the Taliban about their presence, their numbers and location?
Some reviewers try to wriggle their way out of making this decision by bringing out other possibilities - possibilities which were not there. They couldn't take the goat herders prisoner or take them with them. It was broad daylight - the Taliban could be anywhere, watching them at anytime. They couldn't risk it. They did try to call HQ and ask what they should do - but got no reply. They couldn't just get airlifted out of there ASAP because there is no place for the helicopter to land in the immediate vicinity. The journey to a safe location was miles away. A journey they couldn't make in the broad daylight because of the lack of cover and the fear of being spotted by the Taliban.
Anyway, so back to the dilemma. Do they kill the goat herders, a violation of the Rules of Engagement which state that you cannot kill unarmed civilians or even unarmed combatants. Or, do they let them go, risking their mission and their lives. Their first instinct is to kill them, in fact, deep down, they know thats what they should do. However, because they were afraid of being labeled and tried as murderers back home, they made the decision to let them go. And that decision cost them their lives.
I think this is where we need to stop and think. Do we think they made the right decision? Were the lives of the goat herders worth more than the three Navy SEALS (I'm going to leave out the soldiers that were killed in the helicopter crash because I feel that their deaths were not necessarily a direct consequence of the decision to let the goat herders free)?
I'm not saying that we should give the soldiers free reign to murder, rape, and pillage. Definitely not. But, when soldiers encounter grey areas such as these SEALs encountered, should we stand up for them when they opt for their own safety over following the ROE? Or, should we follow the ROE at any cost? Obviously Lutrell has his own opinions on the subject. He is a soldier, and he saw many of his best friends killed as a result of ROE.
I think this book does bring up some important points of debate and I wish people whose politics differed from the authors would be more open minded and rather than becoming defensive or put off, they would try to understand where the author was coming from rather than immediately writing him off as brainwashed, dumb, or arrogant.
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