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==Criticism==
==Criticism==


The book describes "hundreds" of Taliban. Luttrell himself stated that there were no more than 20 to 35 enemy in his after action report. While analysis of intelligence later revealed a number somewhere in the range of 8 to 10, the Navy used a number more in line with Luttrell's original after action on the official Medal of Honor citation for Lieutenant Murphy: "BETWEEN 30 AND 40 ENEMY FIGHTERS...."
The book describes "hundreds" of Taliban. Luttrell himself stated that there were no more than 20 to 35 enemy in his after action report. While analysis of intelligence later revealed a number somewhere in the range of 8 to 10, the Navy used a number more in line with Luttrell's original after action on the official Medal of Honor citation for Lieutenant Murphy: "BETWEEN 30 AND 40 ENEMY FIGHTERS...." <ref name="VP_Web_Old">{{citation|url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/index-old-jan15-08.php|title=Archived Version of Victory Point Web Site, from 2006, Pointing out Difference between Operation Redwing and Operation Red Wings|last=Darack, Ed|publisher=Darack.com|accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{citation|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/books/09seal.html|title=Books: Lone Survivor|last=Rich, Motoko|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2012-02-06|date=2007-08-09}}</ref><ref name="Robinson">{{citation|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-robinson/emlone-survivorem-the-sto_b_444843.html|title=Writing Lone Survivor: The Honor and the Anguish|last=Robinson, Patrick|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=2012-02-06|date=2010-02-02}}</ref><ref name="onv"/><ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette"/><ref name="ricks"/>


Lone Survivor was written in its entirety by Patrick Robinson (a British writer who primarily pens military fiction titles, many of which portray U.S. Navy SEALs), based on unrecorded interviews of Marcus Luttrell by Robinson. The writing was done while Luttrell was subsequently deployed to Iraq.
Lone Survivor was written in its entirety by Patrick Robinson (a British writer who primarily pens military fiction titles, many of which portray U.S. Navy SEALs), based on unrecorded interviews of Marcus Luttrell by Robinson. The writing was done while Luttrell was subsequently deployed to Iraq.<ref name="VP_Web_Old">{{citation|url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/index-old-jan15-08.php|title=Archived Version of Victory Point Web Site, from 2006, Pointing out Difference between Operation Redwing and Operation Red Wings|last=Darack, Ed|publisher=Darack.com|accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{citation|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/books/09seal.html|title=Books: Lone Survivor|last=Rich, Motoko|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2012-02-06|date=2007-08-09}}</ref><ref name="Robinson">{{citation|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-robinson/emlone-survivorem-the-sto_b_444843.html|title=Writing Lone Survivor: The Honor and the Anguish|last=Robinson, Patrick|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=2012-02-06|date=2010-02-02}}</ref><ref name="onv"/><ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette"/><ref name="ricks"/>


In Lone Survivor, and countless articles written about Red Wings, Lieutenant Michael Murphy supposedly put to vote whether to kill unarmed Afghan civilians who soft compromised his team. This ended up being a central pillar to the overall story, and hence, countless blog and online discussion board posts (and print and online articles) on rules of engagement and morality in warfare. Murphy placing something like this up to vote almost certainly did not happen. Marines who were interviewed and had intimate knowledge of Luttrell's after action report stated nothing said anything about a vote. The mere suggestion of a vote infuriated a number of the other men involved in the Operation. Of note, the portrayal of Murphy putting to vote the execution of unarmed civilians not only outraged members of the military, but didn't sit well with his family. When asked about the suggestion of a vote, Murphy's father has been quoted as saying "That directly contradicts what he(Marcus Luttrell) told [Murphy's mother] Maureen, myself and Michael's brother John in my kitchen, he said that Michael was adamant that the civilians were going to be released, that he wasn't going to kill innocent people ... Michael wouldn't put that up for committee. People who knew Michael know that he was decisive and that he makes decisions."<ref name=http://www.shadowspear.com/vb/threads/seals-father-survivors-book-dishonors-sons-memory.892/>
In Lone Survivor, and countless articles written about Red Wings, Lieutenant Michael Murphy supposedly put to vote whether to kill unarmed Afghan civilians who soft compromised his team. This ended up being a central pillar to the overall story, and hence, countless blog and online discussion board posts (and print and online articles) on rules of engagement and morality in warfare. Murphy placing something like this up to vote almost certainly did not happen. Marines who were interviewed and had intimate knowledge of Luttrell's after action report stated nothing said anything about a vote. The mere suggestion of a vote infuriated a number of the other men involved in the Operation. Of note, the portrayal of Murphy putting to vote the execution of unarmed civilians not only outraged members of the military, but didn't sit well with his family. When asked about the suggestion of a vote, Murphy's father has been quoted as saying "That directly contradicts what he(Marcus Luttrell) told [Murphy's mother] Maureen, myself and Michael's brother John in my kitchen, he said that Michael was adamant that the civilians were going to be released, that he wasn't going to kill innocent people ... Michael wouldn't put that up for committee. People who knew Michael know that he was decisive and that he makes decisions.<ref name="VP_Web_Old">{{citation|url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/index-old-jan15-08.php|title=Archived Version of Victory Point Web Site, from 2006, Pointing out Difference between Operation Redwing and Operation Red Wings|last=Darack, Ed|publisher=Darack.com|accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{citation|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/books/09seal.html|title=Books: Lone Survivor|last=Rich, Motoko|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2012-02-06|date=2007-08-09}}</ref><ref name="Robinson">{{citation|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-robinson/emlone-survivorem-the-sto_b_444843.html|title=Writing Lone Survivor: The Honor and the Anguish|last=Robinson, Patrick|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=2012-02-06|date=2010-02-02}}</ref><ref name="onv"/><ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette"/><ref name="ricks"/>


The "narrative" of a four-man SEAL team being inserted and taking on an army of dozens or hundreds under the leadership of the top lieutenant of the most wanted individual in modern history makes for a great story line, but the reality of Operation Red Wings is far more complex, far less "hollywood," and involves many more entities than is portrayed in Lone Survivor.
The "narrative" of a four-man SEAL team being inserted and taking on an army of dozens or hundreds under the leadership of the top lieutenant of the most wanted individual in modern history makes for a great story line, but the reality of Operation Red Wings is far more complex, far less "hollywood," and involves many more entities than is portrayed in Lone Survivor.<ref name="VP_Web_Old">{{citation|url=http://www.darack.com/sawtalosar/index-old-jan15-08.php|title=Archived Version of Victory Point Web Site, from 2006, Pointing out Difference between Operation Redwing and Operation Red Wings|last=Darack, Ed|publisher=Darack.com|accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{citation|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/books/09seal.html|title=Books: Lone Survivor|last=Rich, Motoko|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2012-02-06|date=2007-08-09}}</ref><ref name="Robinson">{{citation|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-robinson/emlone-survivorem-the-sto_b_444843.html|title=Writing Lone Survivor: The Honor and the Anguish|last=Robinson, Patrick|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=2012-02-06|date=2010-02-02}}</ref><ref name="onv"/><ref name="Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette"/><ref name="ricks"/>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 23:42, 28 February 2012

Marcus Luttrell
File:Marcus Luttrell 2.jpg
Marcus Luttrell
Nickname(s)"Southern Boy"
"The One"
Born (1975-11-07) November 7, 1975 (age 48)
Houston, Texas[1]
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1999–2007
Rank Petty Officer First Class
Unit United States Navy SEALs
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
Awards Navy Cross[2][3]  Purple Heart

Marcus Luttrell (born November 7, 1975) is a former Petty Officer First Class[4] and United States Navy SEAL. He received the Navy Cross for his actions in 2005 facing Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wings also known as Operation Red Wing.

Early life

He began training for the SEALs at age 15 with former United States Army soldier Billy Shelton, who lived nearby. He trained every day with his twin brother, Morgan, and others who aspired to join the military. Shelton trained them using various weight and endurance exercises. After high school, Luttrell attended Sam Houston State University, where he joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.[5]

Military career

Luttrell joined the United States Navy in March 1999. He began Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training with Class 226 in Coronado, California. He graduated with Class 228 after suffering a fractured femur early in his training.[5] He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 with SEAL Team Ten.[5] Prior to Afghanistan, Luttrell had been part of SDV-1. After Operation Red Wings he transferred to SEAL Team Five and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom doing various operations there.

Operation Red Wing

Late in the night of June 27, 2005, two MH-47 Special Operations Aircraft of the Army Special Operations Command's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (SOAR(A)) approached Sawtalo Sar. As one of the aircraft performed a number of "decoy drops" to confuse any possible enemy on the ground as to the specific purpose of helicopters, the other inserted, via fastrope, a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team in a saddle between Sawtalo Sar and Gatigal Sar, a peak just to the south of Sawtalo Sar. The insert point was roughly one and one half miles from the nearest Named Area of Interest. The team members were team leader Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT-1), based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Petty Officer Second Class Danny P. Dietz from SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2 (SDVT-2), based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Petty Officer Second Class Matthew G. Axelson from SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT-1); and Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class Marcus Luttrell, of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT-1). After moving to a pre-determined, covered overwatch position, from which the SEALs could observe the Named Areas of Interest, the team was discovered by local goatherders. After determining that they were civilians, and not combatants, Lieutenant Murphy had them released, as was protocol in the area of operations at the time, according to rules of engagement. Within an hour, the SEAL Reconnaissance and Surveillance team was ambushed by Shah and his men, a group that contrary to Luttrell's book, numbered 8-10 enemy. The ambush was intense, came from three sides, and included PK light Machine Gun fire, AK47 Fire, RPG-7 Rocket Propelled Grenade fire, and 82mm mortar fire. The ambush team forced the SEAL team into the northeast gulch of Sawtalo Sar, on the Shuryek Valley side of Sawtalo Sar. The SEALs made a number of attempts to contact their combat operations center with a PRC-148 MBITR (Multi Band Iter/Intra Radio) and then with an Iridium Satellite Phone. The team could not establish consistent communication, however, other than for a period long enough to indicate that they were under attack. Three of the four team members were killed, and the only survivor, Marcus Luttrell, was left unconscious with a number of fractures and other serious wounds. He would soon regain consciousness and evade the pursuing enemy.

Muhammad Ismail

Main article: Ahmad Shah (Taliban)

The target of Operation Red Wings, Mohammad Ismail alias Ahmad Shah, survived the American operation but was killed during a firefight with Pakistani police commandos in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in April 2008.[6]

Returning home

Luttrell returned to the U.S. the following year, and co-authored the New York Times bestseller Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.[7] He separated from the Navy in 2007, and was subsequently granted a temporary medical retirement through the Board for the Correction of Naval Records in 2009 .

In 2008, Marcus spoke at the Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting. Immediately prior to the event, Marcus was arrested in New York City for assault following an argument in a bar. During his speech Marcus described the incident for the NRA audience.

DASY

As part of Luttrell's recuperation he was given a puppy. He named the dog DASY. Each letter of the name "DASY" represents one of the members of his team—Danny Dietz, Matthew "Axe" Axelson, Southern boy (Marcus), and Michael "Yankee" Murphy. She was given to him in recovery to help him through rehabilitation.[8]

On April 1, 2009, four males approached Luttrell's property and killed his yellow Labrador puppy, DASY, with a .357 Magnum revolver at approximately 1 A.M.[8][9] Luttrell proceeded to chase the individuals through four counties in his truck armed with two 9 mm Berettas—until Onalaska Police apprehended the individuals.[10] Upon arrest, the suspects verbally threatened Luttrell's life and taunted him.[9] Alfonso Hernandez was arrested on-scene for driving without a valid drivers license and later charged with animal cruelty.[11] Michael Edmonds turned himself in on April 7, was booked, and posted bond on the same charge. The other two individuals were not indicted. The males are also suspects in the killings of other neighborhood dogs.[8] On Nov. 29, 2011, Marcus posted on his Facebook Page that "Court date on Thursday for DASY's killer's I'll keep y'all posted on what happens. It's only been almost 3 years glad it's finally here" and again on Dec. 1, saying they were found guilty. There is a pre-sentence investigation to be conducted before a punishment is handed down, which is expected to take place in February.[12]

Lone Survivor Foundation

In 2010, Luttrell established the Lone Survivor Foundation. Headquartered in Huntsville, Texas the foundation's mission is to "...go to extraordinary lengths to welcome home, empower and restore American wounded warriors, their families and surviving families as well as CALL Hometown USA TO ACTION to inspire the American Public to Pay It Forward." The vision is to "...provide therapeutic and unique opportunities to optimize recovery and healing our American Patriots – Our Wounded Warriors, Their Families, and Surviving Families.[13] At the center of the foundation is the Lone Survivor Ranch. In a Texas ranch setting of at least 3,000 acres (12 km2), the Lone Survivor Ranch will provide holistic care to returning servicemen.

Marcus Luttrell and The Lone Survivor Foundation has partnered with The Boot Campaign[14] to help show tangible appreciation of America’s active duty military, raise awareness of the challenges they face upon return, and support the transition home.[15]

Personal life

Luttrell married Melanie Juneau on November 27, 2010 in Texas. They welcomed their first child, a boy named Axe, on May 8, 2011. On January 14, at an event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, he announced that he and his wife are expecting their second child.

Criticism

The book describes "hundreds" of Taliban. Luttrell himself stated that there were no more than 20 to 35 enemy in his after action report. While analysis of intelligence later revealed a number somewhere in the range of 8 to 10, the Navy used a number more in line with Luttrell's original after action on the official Medal of Honor citation for Lieutenant Murphy: "BETWEEN 30 AND 40 ENEMY FIGHTERS...." [16][17][18][19][20][21]

Lone Survivor was written in its entirety by Patrick Robinson (a British writer who primarily pens military fiction titles, many of which portray U.S. Navy SEALs), based on unrecorded interviews of Marcus Luttrell by Robinson. The writing was done while Luttrell was subsequently deployed to Iraq.[16][17][18][19][20][21]

In Lone Survivor, and countless articles written about Red Wings, Lieutenant Michael Murphy supposedly put to vote whether to kill unarmed Afghan civilians who soft compromised his team. This ended up being a central pillar to the overall story, and hence, countless blog and online discussion board posts (and print and online articles) on rules of engagement and morality in warfare. Murphy placing something like this up to vote almost certainly did not happen. Marines who were interviewed and had intimate knowledge of Luttrell's after action report stated nothing said anything about a vote. The mere suggestion of a vote infuriated a number of the other men involved in the Operation. Of note, the portrayal of Murphy putting to vote the execution of unarmed civilians not only outraged members of the military, but didn't sit well with his family. When asked about the suggestion of a vote, Murphy's father has been quoted as saying "That directly contradicts what he(Marcus Luttrell) told [Murphy's mother] Maureen, myself and Michael's brother John in my kitchen, he said that Michael was adamant that the civilians were going to be released, that he wasn't going to kill innocent people ... Michael wouldn't put that up for committee. People who knew Michael know that he was decisive and that he makes decisions.[16][17][18][19][20][21]

The "narrative" of a four-man SEAL team being inserted and taking on an army of dozens or hundreds under the leadership of the top lieutenant of the most wanted individual in modern history makes for a great story line, but the reality of Operation Red Wings is far more complex, far less "hollywood," and involves many more entities than is portrayed in Lone Survivor.[16][17][18][19][20][21]

References

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference LuttrellRobinson2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Marcus Luttrell". Navy Seals. 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-10. In 2006, Petty Officer Luttrell was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism.
  3. ^ "LIEUTENANT MICHAEL P. MURPHY – United States Navy". United States Navy. 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  4. ^ "Marcus Luttrell | NavySEALs.com – Experience the SEAL Edge". NavySEALs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  5. ^ a b c Luttrell, Marcus (2006). Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. Back Bay Books. ISBN 0316067598. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Matt Dupee (April 17, 2008<!- – 12:43 PM-->). "Bara bin Malek Front commander killed in Pakistani shootout". long war journal. Retrieved 2008-12-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "The Lone Survivor" (PDF). The New York Times. 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2010-04-11. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ a b c Glenn Beck (April 6, 2009). "Glenn Beck: Teen punks murder American hero's dog". Glenn Beck.com. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  9. ^ a b Schiller, Dane (April 9, 2009). "Survivor of war loses dog to random violence". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 12, 2010. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  10. ^ Associated Press (April 9, 2009). "War hero helps nab suspects in dog killing". MSNBC. Retrieved September 12, 2010. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  11. ^ Brown, Joe (April 8, 2009). "Alleged Dog Shooters Chased Down by War Hero". KBTX-TV. Retrieved September 12, 2010. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  12. ^ Cody Stark (December 2, 2011). "Man convicted in death of war hero's dog". The Huntsville Item.
  13. ^ "Lone Survivor Foundation". Lone Survivor Foundation. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  14. ^ "Help the Boot Girls support American soldiers by purchasing combat boots!". Boot Campaign. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  15. ^ "The Boot Campaign Mission: Support returning US Soldiers through proceeds raised from Boot sales". Boot Campaign. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  16. ^ a b c d Darack, Ed, Archived Version of Victory Point Web Site, from 2006, Pointing out Difference between Operation Redwing and Operation Red Wings, Darack.com, retrieved 2012-02-06
  17. ^ a b c d Rich, Motoko (2007-08-09), Books: Lone Survivor, New York Times, retrieved 2012-02-06
  18. ^ a b c d Robinson, Patrick (2010-02-02), Writing Lone Survivor: The Honor and the Anguish, Huffington Post, retrieved 2012-02-06
  19. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference onv was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Ed_Darack_Marine_Corps_Gazette was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference ricks was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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