View Full Version : Lone Survivor
Radar Rider
09-03-2007, 19:29
Lone Survivor is the story of Marcus Luttrell, the one surviving Navy SEAL of a reconnaissance mission gone bad. On 27 June 2005, a four man Seal Team was inserted into the Hindu Kush (eastern Afghanistan) in order to conduct surveillance on a HVM (high value miscreant) of the Taliban/al Qaeda; their intent was to locate and then either capture or terminate the HVM or call in a larger force to conduct that mission. The story will sound familiar if you recall the SEAL Team that was discovered by locals; the team then had to decide whether to kill the locals or to let them go and risk compromise. After some heated discussion, they decided to let the goatherders go and try to exfil ASAP. Other than the attacks which the team had to endure, THAT is most intense part of the story. The fact that four Americans, well behind enemy lines and with no commo, had to factor in crucifixion in the American media made their decision that much more painful.
Luttrell tells a fascinating story, beginning with his preparations for and attendance at SEAL training. Although we've all read of the hardships of that school, it is still amazing to see what SEAL candidates must undergo. The book then transitions to Afghanistan, and the missions of SOF. When the recon mission goes to hell, the 4 SEALS have to fight up to 200 miscreants armed with AK-47s and RPGs. Another gut wrenching portion occurs when the QRF is launched, and the aircraft is shot down by an RPG. Even as you root for the SEALS, you know the tragic end. Or you think you do. Luttrell covers his own fortunate survival, and the friendly tribesmen that risked all to help him.
Throughout the book, Luttrell skewers the lefties and the liberal media. When you read this story, you'll know why. With hardass training, a lot of faith and some luck, Marcus Luttrell made it home to tell his story. It is engrossing, reveals details that few know, and is a quick page turner. I HIGHLY recommend it.
I read this, it was a heartbreaker and a story of survival that I shall not forget.
I remember when snipets of his survival story started to be told, he (Luttrell) was referred to as "the one"...before his identity became known outside of the SEAL community.
Outstanding book but ultimately heart-breaking....managed to find two copies in Kuala Lumpur and bought both from the book store.
The narration isn't what I would call stellar.
I found his frequent political/religious rants derailed the narrative off course in the oddest places. More often than not, his comments seemed to be in there because he had a forum to grief.
I feel for the families of the men that died. Clearly it was a terrible day and those guys went out there to fight without reservation. The entire "story"(is non-fiction a story?) and events were gripping but the agenda he inserted into the book seemed to have little to do with the events in question. It made me wonder was this stuff really going through his head when he was fighting for his life? Didn't he have other things to worry about?
Perhaps, if you are on board with his thinking it may not be as annoying to you but it seemed like the wrong forum to me.
j
CPTAUSRET
09-10-2007, 11:10
The narration isn't what I would call stellar.
I found his frequent political/religious rants derailed the narrative off course in the oddest places. More often than not, his comments seemed to be in there because he had a forum to grief.
I feel for the families of the men that died. Clearly it was a terrible day and those guys went out there to fight without reservation. The entire "story"(is non-fiction a story?) and events were gripping but the agenda he inserted into the book seemed to have little to do with the events in question. It made me wonder was this stuff really going through his head when he was fighting for his life? Didn't he have other things to worry about?
Perhaps, if you are on board with his thinking it may not be as annoying to you but it seemed like the wrong forum to me.
j
I have not read the book, but Nancy (my wife) is after me to write a book re my time in VN...You can bet if I do, that I will lambaste a bunch of political hacks who prevented US from taking the war to the enemy. There were a great many targets begging to be hit, instead our air-crews were required to overfly Migs on the ground, in order to get to other less productive targets! "THUD RIDGE" is a good book on the topic.
Thank you, robert strange mcnamara. There were a great many hurdles we had to jump just to engage the enemy...Thank God I did not have gun cameras on my aircraft!
It's your book to write as you like and you can be sure I will buy it :)
For what it's worth, the most effective books I've read, didn't spell out the politics. They let the facts speak for themselves and allowed me to make an informed decision about what I was reading and how it fit into the context of the world. As an adult and a reader, I appreciate that authors realize I'm not 5 years old and need everything spelled out for me.
If the writer of Lone Survivor had told his story well I might have bought into what he was saying more. As it stands, there's at least 2 dozen other books I would recommend in front of that one on the post 9/11 wars.
j
I have not read the book, but Nancy (my wife) is after me to write a book re my time in VN...
I'm with your wife on this - can we start a petition? Since reading An Enormous Crime I've been very interested in learning more about Vietnam but I haven't found a good place to start yet. Your book sounds like a good place!
The narration isn't what I would call stellar.
I found his frequent political/religious rants derailed the narrative off course in the oddest places. More often than not, his comments seemed to be in there because he had a forum to grief.
I feel for the families of the men that died. Clearly it was a terrible day and those guys went out there to fight without reservation. The entire "story"(is non-fiction a story?) and events were gripping but the agenda he inserted into the book seemed to have little to do with the events in question. It made me wonder was this stuff really going through his head when he was fighting for his life? Didn't he have other things to worry about?
Perhaps, if you are on board with his thinking it may not be as annoying to you but it seemed like the wrong forum to me.
j
I know what you're talking about but could it possibly be because of how fustrated he feels or how fustrated he felt at the time and he is telling us how it is or how it was and why he felt that way?
I know he repeats his political agenda and feelings a number of times...not that its necc. a bad thing..
brianb0806
10-17-2007, 06:22
It's your book to write as you like and you can be sure I will buy it :)
For what it's worth, the most effective books I've read, didn't spell out the politics. They let the facts speak for themselves and allowed me to make an informed decision about what I was reading and how it fit into the context of the world. As an adult and a reader, I appreciate that authors realize I'm not 5 years old and need everything spelled out for me.
If the writer of Lone Survivor had told his story well I might have bought into what he was saying more. As it stands, there's at least 2 dozen other books I would recommend in front of that one on the post 9/11 wars.
j
Keep in mind that a big part of writing a book like that is to decompress. It's obvious that he attributes much of the blame for this incident to the liberal, uninformed politicians, lawyers and media hacks, who have forced the military to justify every action like a beat cop in LA. He needed a forum to express this as well as tell his team's story. I don't think his analysis of the politics behind the war are at all out of place. Every time we see another soldier, sailor or marine go on trial for murder in Iraq or Afghanistan, we hesitate a little more when confronted. This leads to unnecesary American casualties. There is no sense in it. It needs to be put in the spotlight as much as possible and this book has helped do that. He never criticized the war, his leaders or the mission, he only expressed fact. The fact that this was a constant thought in his mind certainly before and after the mission, and likely during it. Good on 'em.
The facts of this are a 4 man team went into very dangerous area, were compromised and nearly wiped out. Period. They were not denied some kind of support because Hillary Clinton didn't want a reaction force sent in. It wasn't CNN sending live data to the people they were fighting.
And correct me if I'm mistaken, but there has been military justice for soldiers convicted of violating the codes of conduct be it torture or illegal killing, etc. since the days of the Civil War? There is a standard that the military is expected to adhere to because they are representatives of the United States of America.
While reading this book I did not once have a fact presented to me that said, this man's hands were tied and he was unable to defend himself. I did not find any rational argument that said if the media weren't such jackals and "uninformed" people weren't so "uninformed" that the war would be over or that anything would be great. Would his team have been wiped out if CNN did nothing but run pro-Bush coverage?
In some points here, I am playing devils advocate(maybe to the point of being inflammatory) because I don't find myself aligned with all of his thinking.
Regarding the book as decompression, let me flip this for a second.
I was walking through my neighborhood 2 days ago, when a police van and several officers stop me and tell me to face the wall. I comply, having no idea what is going on, to find out they stopped me because I had a pocket knife in my pocket (I'm assuming there was an undercover agent who spotted it).
After searching me and my bags they inform me that they are going to confiscate my pocket knife because it is illegal. I ask, politely, since when is carrying a pocket knife illegal. They counter with it has a 4" blade, which it did not (had a 3" blade -- we ended up measuring it). At this point they give me back the knife and say they are giving me a warning. A warning for what? (incidentally carrying a knife is fine in NYC as long as it is not a switch blade type knife)
Now if I go and write and article where I'm decompressing and blasting all police as fascists , stealing my rights, etc., etc. Does that make an educated article? No. Is it in anyway constructive? Does it help figure out how to go from here? No.
That's what this book felt like to me.
j
Children cry because they don't have the reasoning power of adults.
That's what this book felt like to me.
j
You, sir, are a complete imbecile.
What gives you the right to slander any SOF soldier as a "child" with limited "reasoning power" - let alone one who has been to hell and back, and probably wishes he died with his friends?
You may not like the way he told his story, you might even disagree with his politics, but it's his story to tell and he doesn't need you impugning his character or casting aspersions.
Ponder that while designing your video games under the protection of better men.
You, sir, are a complete imbecile.
What gives you the right to slander any SOF soldier as a "child" with limited "reasoning power" - let alone one who has been to hell and back, and probably wishes he died with his friends?
You may not like the way he told his story, you might even disagree with his politics, but it's his story to tell and he doesn't need you impugning his character or casting aspersions.
Ponder that while designing your video games under the protection of better men.
Shack X 2
JATX, I was not trying to disregard his service or the sacrifice of his friends. I have edited my post to reflect that. Perhaps I should have worded my commentary more carefully.
What I should have said is "House to House" by Staff Sergeant David Bellavia conveys some of the same ideas/politics and does it far more effectively because while describing the events that happened to his platoon in Falujah, he talks about circumstances where men/women of the armed forces have to make no-win life and death decisions under impossible pressure. Just his description of these situations made me feel for those men and think about how it must feel to be held to rules like don't shoot a child, unless he is carrying ammunition for the RPGs that are being fired at him and men in his stead.
It's easy to demonize things and say this is bad or good. Bellavia does a excellent job of making me understand what people in his position must go through and the sacrifices they make. It also makes me very conscious various people in the media, political arena that are always trying to draw lines between good and bad, right and wrong, etc.
Regarding how I choose to think or live, while under the protection of a "better man"...There are millions of men and women in the military, government and law/enforcement of the USA am I not allowed to take issue with anything of them say because I haven't been in the military or police or government? Because I have never been a member of the Federal government does that mean I'm not allowed to have an opinion about how are government is run? Because my trade is not in the military or government does that mean I have no right to an opinion on what my country does?
I am discussing the writing in the book. I'm not even trying to make a point about agreeing/disagreeing with the politics of it, my beef is specifically with the writing. Is it possible to critique the work without "casting aspersions" or "slander" to his character? Can we not write a negative review of something just because it was written by a veteran or member of the US Government?
No one on this forum is a former President of the United States, but I see plenty of critiques (some less than subtle) at different former POTUS's. I can think of no one I would classify a "better man" than that. In fact, theoretically the POTUS is the "best man" in the United States of America, because he has been elected by the population of our country to represent their wants, needs and hopes and make decisions that will keep us all safe and prosperous.
I've never made claims to being a soldier or a better man than anyone. I don't try to pass myself off as military, LEO, etc. because I don't need to. I pay taxes and contribute where I can.
j
Kyobanim
10-17-2007, 12:14
Looks to me like you guys need to read what you type before you press the submit button. It's very easy to take a post out of context, on any board.
BTW, name calling isn't allowed here. If you can't discuss a topic in a civilized manner there are other places that will let you do so.
2018commo
10-17-2007, 14:18
I read the book this summer while on vacation. I remember thinking what a great way to honor his brothers, who cares whether he can write.
That week I called all of the guys from my first ODA, just to hear their voices. Most of what I am, how I think and how I raise my son, I can attribute to them.
Drop a dime if you haven’t in a while.
JAGeorgia
10-17-2007, 14:43
In fact, theoretically the POTUS is the "best man" in the United States of America, because he has been elected by the population of our country to represent their wants, needs and hopes and make decisions that will keep us all safe and prosperous.
Um...maybe I've been in a comma. I understand what you meant but, what happened to the Electoral College? I thought only 538 people got to vote for POTUS (see Article Two, Section One of the United States Constitution). Might be useful information next year. :munchin
Sorry for the nit pick.
Looks to me like you guys need to read what you type before you press the submit button. It's very easy to take a post out of context, on any board.
BTW, name calling isn't allowed here. If you can't discuss a topic in a civilized manner there are other places that will let you do so.
Roger, I'll tone it down.
CoLawman
10-17-2007, 23:35
[QUOTE=eva05;185872]The facts of this are a 4 man team went into very dangerous area, were compromised and nearly wiped out. Period.
Or one might say that the facts of the case are; 4 members of the SEAL community displayed unimaginable gallantry, courage, and envialble skill against overwhelming odds. 3 of those men gave their lives while a fourth evaded capture and was eventually rescued. That is just the comma, not a period. 16 additional members of the SOF community would lose their lives attempting to save the lives of the original inserted team. On that day, 19 men, all volunteers in service to their country would die. The single largest loss of American troops in Afghanistan for a single day.
These were not ordinary men. They were men who had volunteered not only for military service, but were elite members of our armed forces. Men who chose to be part of the historic warrior caste of our nation.
That is the purpose of the book. One surviving member of an elite brotherhood memorializing his comrades. If not him who? Kaplan recently wrote that MOH winner Paul Smith's accomplishments were virtually ignored by the media, yet some backwards girl at Abu Ghraib became a household name because she humiliated terrorists, much like a fraternity rush! (my words not Kaplans).
That might be the end of the story for some, but the families certainly have not closed the book. Nor will we, who honor our heroes.
While reading this book I did not once have a fact presented to me that said, this man's hands were tied and he was unable to defend himself. I did not find any rational argument that said if the media weren't such jackals and "uninformed" people weren't so "uninformed" that the war would be over or that anything would be great. Would his team have been wiped out if CNN did nothing but run pro-Bush coverage?
I would recommend you read the book again, being a bit more tolerant of one of this nations modern day heroes. Your passage reads as if you felt it was a personal attack against you and your political opinions.
I was walking through my neighborhood 2 days ago, when a police van and several officers stop me and tell me to face the wall. I comply, having no idea what is going on, to find out they stopped me because I had a pocket knife in my pocket (I'm assuming there was an undercover agent who spotted it).
Apples and Oranges my friend. It would be impossible for you to come up with a personal analogy commensurate to flip in this debate.
82ndtrooper
10-18-2007, 14:29
[QUOTE]
Or one might say that the facts of the case are; 4 members of the SEAL community displayed unimaginable gallantry, courage, and envialble skill against overwhelming odds. 3 of those men gave their lives while a fourth evaded capture and was eventually rescued. That is just the comma, not a period. 16 additional members of the SOF community would lose their lives attempting to save the lives of the original inserted team. On that day, 19 men, all volunteers in service to their country would die. The single largest loss of American troops in Afghanistan for a single day.
These were not ordinary men. They were men who had volunteered not only for military service, but were elite members of our armed forces. Men who chose to be part of the historic warrior caste of our nation.
That is the purpose of the book. One surviving member of an elite brotherhood memorializing his comrades. If not him who? Kaplan recently wrote that MOH winner Paul Smith's accomplishments were virtually ignored by the media, yet some backwards girl at Abu Ghraib became a household name because she humiliated terrorists, much like a fraternity rush! (my words not Kaplans).
That might be the end of the story for some, but the families certainly have not closed the book. Nor will we, who honor our heroes.
I would recommend you read the book again, being a bit more tolerant of one of this nations modern day heroes. Your passage reads as if you felt it was a personal attack against you and your political opinions.
Apples and Oranges my friend. It would be impossible for you to come up with a personal analogy commensurate to flip in this debate.
Well spoken ! That should just about do with the flyby comments.
I heard part of this interview today.
http://www.glennbeck.com/news/06212007a.shtml
http://www.glennbeck.com/news/06222007a.shtml
Found the following.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irC4K7Q4JCo
http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/soa.html
Would his team have been wiped out if CNN did nothing but run pro-Bush coverage?
It was Bush's Fault? Maybe if Hillary ws president we would know for sure.
Your not even close to what was being projected in the Book. They didn't want to Kill the Herders who walked into their position because they didn't want to live with this secrete. They didn't want to live a lie. Some people still think lying is wrong. Why lie? They had every right to kill them. But thats not how it works these days.
They knew how it would be projected in the Media, especially CNN. They would of showed pictures of these people. Pictures of them when they were alive. Pictures of them when they were younger to make people believe they were this age when killed.
Pictures of them with Mothers, Fathers, Children. Every time the MSM mentioned the SEALS they would show the same film clip over and over. Probably practicing Hand to hand. Or using a photo of a Contractor sporting an Evil Goatee with cut off sleeves.
I don't think they would of showed them sitting with his Wife who is a Kindergarten Teacher. But we will never know. The last thing this guy did was ask his friend to tell his Wife he loved her as he was shot for over the tenth time.
Cindy Axelson, the wife of one of the SEALS killed on this particular mission actually came on YOUTUBE and posted a thank you message to everyone who left comments on the page with their personal video of her and her husband.
It was very very touching.
Forgotten
10-22-2007, 16:34
I found the book to be a perfect example of what true courage and commitment to the defense of our country and freedom really are. 4 SEALs outnumbered, outgunned, and yet they fought on, and then for the 8 members of 160th Nightstalkers and the 8 other Navy SEALs to ignore the danger and continue to try and save thier fellow brothers in arms, it almost tore me apart.
Also eva05 I find that his actions were restricted due to thier fear of being protrayed as murders by the media they were not able to proform thier mission to thier fullest capabilities. If we allow the media to become so powerfull that our men and women out in the field defending our freedom are afraid that they are commiting a crime when trying to keep themselves and thier teamates alive, how can we ever expect to win a war, when actions are taken, people should view it in the context of the situation instead of just looking at the actions that to some may seem extreme. If the SEALs had not needed to worry so much about actions taken in defense of freedom and the preservation of thier lives they may still be alive today. If anything I feel that the actions of the Team of SEALs in dealing with the locals only showed the charecter of such men who would rather die than be seen as murders by a media that at times just wants to make the headlines instead of telling the entire story. It just seems to me that they prefer to show the negative side of the actions taken by the U.S. military.
I applaud a man who I deeply respect and I am gald he lived to write his book because to me it shows that there are still good men who are willing to sacrifice all to maintain my freedom.
Sorry for the size of my post.
Respectfully Forgotten.
The Reaper
10-22-2007, 16:56
Forgotten:
I hope that you are paying attention in your HS English class. I have trouble understanding what you are trying to say.
Note that there is a spell check function on this board. I recommend that you use it.
Where is Morrosboro anyway?
TR
Forgotten
10-22-2007, 17:16
Sorry Sir. I guess I was typing to fast also Mooresboro is a small town outside of Forest City in North Carolina. I will try to make sure my point is put though more clearly next time. Won't happen again.
Respectfully Forgotten.
Roguish Lawyer
10-08-2008, 20:27
I just finished this book. I thought it was quite good. Patrick Robinson, who co-wrote the book, is a best-selling novelist who writes very well. I think anyone who criticizes his prose is probably pursuing a different agenda.
I had not previously read eva05's posts. I think she must be incapable of understanding (due to intelligence level) or accepting (due to unshakeable liberal faith) the idea that the media and "human rights activists" endanger our soldiers, sailors and airmen when they apply unrealistic standards of conduct to military situations. The team's decision to let the goatherders go would be an excellent hypothetical for any ethics class, and the fact that fear of prosecution played a big role in the decision is really the point that the author is making. Marcus Luttrell is a hero and a great American, and eva05 should be ashamed of herself.
Team Sergeant
10-08-2008, 21:55
I just finished this book. I thought it was quite good. Patrick Robinson, who co-wrote the book, is a best-selling novelist who writes very well. I think anyone who criticizes his prose is probably pursuing a different agenda.
I had not previously read eva05's posts. I think she must be incapable of understanding (due to intelligence level) or accepting (due to unshakeable liberal faith) the idea that the media and "human rights activists" endanger our soldiers, sailors and airmen when they apply unrealistic standards of conduct to military situations. The team's decision to let the goatherders go would be an excellent hypothetical for any ethics class, and the fact that fear of prosecution played a big role in the decision is really the point that the author is making. Marcus Luttrell is a hero and a great American, and eva05 should be ashamed of herself.
Ditto, I don't have time to read every post and eva05's posts are not only out of line but seem to be written by a nut.
eva05 consider youself on thin ice. I'll re-read this in the morning, I find it difficult to follow your train of thought in those posts.
Too everyone else we are trained to deal with this very situation. During the prosecution of Desert Storm four Special Forces soldiers were faced with a similar situation and a much different outcome.
Team Sergeant
charlietwo
10-08-2008, 22:38
While I haven't read the book, I have heard the author being interviewed on a talk radio show, where he recounted the story in a fair amount of detail. This sounded like a terribly painful story, and I'm glad to see that the story is being told.
As a matter of a teaching point, the only part of the story I questioned was the decision to continue the reconnaissance. My initial reaction when listening to the story was that a hard compromise should have led them to request an exfil. Granted, I haven't read the book in it's entirety, so I could be talking completely out of my ass. If so, someone please correct me.
Either way, this is an excellent story of bravery against terrible odds that will be burnt into the history books.
Roguish Lawyer
10-09-2008, 09:58
As a matter of a teaching point, the only part of the story I questioned was the decision to continue the reconnaissance. My initial reaction when listening to the story was that a hard compromise should have led them to request an exfil. Granted, I haven't read the book in it's entirety, so I could be talking completely out of my ass. If so, someone please correct me.
They did not continue, they were leaving when they got attacked by a vastly superior (in size) force.
Well spoken ! That should just about do with the flyby comments.
Agree. Well said that man.
charlietwo
10-09-2008, 18:52
They did not continue, they were leaving when they got attacked by a vastly superior (in size) force.
Got ya... I just remembered hearing the author say they moved a few hundred meters away from the site of the compromise to continue the recon. Thanks for the correction, Roguish!
While trying to find any updates on the murder of Marcus Luttrell's dog, I ran across this and thought I would share it.
http://www.itemonline.com/archivesearch/local_story_246142338.html
Published: September 03, 2009 01:18 pm
Decorated SEAL to share story at SHSU event
By Jennifer Gauntt
SHSU News Service
The lone survivor of what became the single largest loss of life in a day in the history of the Navy SEALs will share his story on Sept. 29 as Sam Houston State University’s 14th President’s Speaker.
The series lecture will be held at 11 a.m. in the Criminal Justice Center’s Killinger Auditorium.
Marcus Luttrell, a Willis native and SHSU alumnus, tells his harrowing story in 2007’s No. 1 New York Times best-selling book Lone Survivor.
He joined the U.S. Navy in March 1999 and became a combat-trained SEAL in January 2002.
After serving in Iraq for two years, he deployed in the spring of 2005 to Afghanistan, where he and three other SEALs participated in Operation Redwing.
While on the mission to gather intelligence on a Taliban leader with ties to Osama bin Laden in the mountainous border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the team encountered three goat herders, who were questioned and let go.
Shortly after, a large Taliban force ambushed the four-man team on a remote ridge and forced the team to fight.
Hours after Luttrell had watched all three friends die and was literally blown off the mountain by a rocket-propelled grenade, a rescue helicopter carrying 16 special operation forces was shot down.
All on board were killed, becoming the single largest loss of life in a day in SEAL history.
His injuries included a lacerated face, a broken nose, a torn rotator cuff and three cracked vertebrae.
Riddled with shrapnel and unable to stand, Luttrell began to crawl through the mountains in search of shelter.
Help arrived by way of the Afghan villagers of Sabray, who took him in, cleaned up his wounds and, honoring their tribe’s custom, protected him from the Taliban at the risk of their own lives.
As the Taliban circled the village and the threats intensified, the village elder sought help from the nearest Marine outpost.
Five nights after the nightmare began, Luttrell was rescued.
After recuperating, he redeployed to Iraq for a second tour. In the spring of 2007, Petty Officer 1st Class Luttrell retired.
He was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism in 2006 by President George W. Bush.
During his lecture, Luttrell discusses the rigors of SEAL training and what it takes to join the America’s elite fighting force, to the battle on the mountain, into his family’s experience of community support and generosity, and back to his own story of survival and grace.
Following the discussion, Luttrell will sign copies of his book.
Created in 2002 by SHSU President Jim Gaertner, the President’s Speaker Series is designed to introduce SHSU students, many of whom are first-generation college students, to people who are living successful and principled lives.
It is supported by a grant from long-time SHSU benefactor Lu Ellen Gibbs.
Previous speakers include Gene Stallings, Debbie Fields, David Robinson, Ken Jennings, J.C. Watts, Drayton McLane Jr., Sherron Watkins and Bob Dole.
The event is free and open to the public.
Holly