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Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 Paperback – May 1, 2008
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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.
- Print length392 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBack Bay Books
- Publication dateMay 1, 2008
- Dimensions5.5 x 1.4 x 8.25 inches
- ISBN-100316067601
- ISBN-13978-0316067607
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
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.
Product details
- Publisher : Back Bay Books; First Edition (May 1, 2008)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 392 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0316067601
- ISBN-13 : 978-0316067607
- Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.4 x 8.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #12,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Iraq War Biographies
- #10 in Afghan War Military History
- #449 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Drew’s Reviews
About the author
Petty Officer First Class Marcus Luttrell was born in Huntsville, Texas in 1975.
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Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They describe the storytelling as gripping and harrowing. Readers praise the heroism, courage, and determination of the Navy Seals. The story is told beautifully and vividly, providing insight into the training process. Overall, customers find the book heartwarming and informative.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers appreciate the book's readability. They find it a great introduction to the SEALs and their heroic actions. The account of the gun battle is vivid, and the author praises Marcus Luttrell as courageous and an outstanding man.
"...Lone Survivor is an enjoyable book, typical in many of its facets, but atypical in its deeper message...." Read more
"...elsewhere to gather more information about this courageous and outstanding man...Marcus Luttrell...." Read more
"...All in all, great book, great (although terrible) story, one that I will re-read over and over in the future...." Read more
"Lone Survivor is a good, true-life adventure story of a U. S. Navy Seal, Marcus Luttrell, who, along with three other Seals, was dropped into..." Read more
Customers find the storytelling gripping and riveting from start to finish. They find it a true-life adventure story of a U.S. Navy Seal, Marcus. The book details the actual battle and includes an amazing reconstruction of the actual battle itself. Readers appreciate the detailed account of combat and courage under fire.
"...(a description of SEAL training camp, tales of combat, lots and lots of bad language and tales of remarkable heroism)..." Read more
"...This is not the type of book I normally choose, but I found it enthralling, horrifying and so gripping I couldn't put it down...." Read more
"...Back to the book, the story of the battle is very detailed and a very quick and easy (not meant insultingly) read...." Read more
"Lone Survivor is a good, true-life adventure story of a U. S. Navy Seal, Marcus Luttrell, who, along with three other Seals, was dropped into..." Read more
Customers praise the book for its heroism and refusal to give up. They find the characters courageous, selfless, and determined. The book details their bravery, devotion to duty, and humility in their heroism.
"...camp, tales of combat, lots and lots of bad language and tales of remarkable heroism)..." Read more
"...and his co-author, Patrick Robinson, have penned a gripping story of courageous men and one particular man's courage against near impossible odds...." Read more
"...You come to love the characters and try and will them through the fight. The ending is truly the gut wrenching part of the book...." Read more
"...These men are the bravest, most selfless, most determined men on the planet, and their love for this country and each other is unbelievable...." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and descriptive. They say it's worth reading even if you don't agree with the author's politics. The book is described as poetic and epic.
"...(a description of SEAL training camp, tales of combat, lots and lots of bad language and tales of remarkable heroism)..." Read more
"...will add noticeably to them, but I have to say I found the book very engagingly written, and since Luttrell's views are similar to my own, not at..." Read more
"...And what of the editors? All in all, it is a very good story and worth reading...." Read more
"...This book is anything but dry and dull. It reads less like a memoir and more like a conversation...." Read more
Customers find the book informative and epic in its storytelling. They appreciate the descriptive sections that paint a picture of the training and missions. The book is described as objective, intelligent, and well-defined.
"...I will say this, the writing is blunt, does not hold back on the gory details of the battle that these brave men went through on the side of those..." Read more
"...This book is an outstanding testimony of an up-close and personal view of how our military and especially our special forces are fighting and..." Read more
"An amazing story of perseverance and determination and bravery. A story of triumph and a story of tremendous loss...." Read more
"...topography, culture and rhythm of a foreign land and deployment are well-defined as Luttrell allows the reader `into his head'...." Read more
Customers find the book heartwarming and emotional. They say it makes them cry, allowing them to feel the ordeals and mental toughness of the servicemen. The story moves quickly and poignantly, ending in an appreciation for the bravery, selflessness, and determination of these men.
"...These men are the bravest, most selfless, most determined men on the planet, and their love for this country and each other is unbelievable...." Read more
"...I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling, emotionally charged book. You won't be disappointed...." Read more
"...The story moves quickly and poignantly ending in an appreciation for our warriors and their total commitment to America, and why we should be..." Read more
"...This story makes you want to cheer and cry at the same time. I turned the last page and was awestruck...." Read more
Customers find the book inspiring and praise the men's love for their country. They appreciate the self-confidence, patriotism, and dedication of the Seals. The book restores their faith in America and provides a deep sense of appreciation and awe for the men and women.
"...to be, full of valor, honor, selflessness, and above all, love for America and freedom. God made Marcus big and strong for a reason...." Read more
"First, Marcus Luttrell is an amazing American and I support what he did and what he does 100%...." Read more
"...His proudness, courage, humanity, and humility shine through...." Read more
"...The authors do a great job of describing the Afghan Village, the culture, especially the children---Marcus' affection for them is clear--and some of..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's description of Navy Seal training. They find it interesting for those with some respect for SEALs and a great read for those who appreciate their work. The story provides a detailed account of the life of a Navy Seal and the author's grueling 2005 battle.
"...The seals fought a great battle. It was not until a grenade landed close to Marcus that he became separated from his brothers...." Read more
"...compelling story of bravery, devotion to duty and the SEAL brotherhood is simply remarkable." Read more
"...This one should be retold over and over and over. It's a great tribute to SEALs, sailors, soldiers and Marines...." Read more
"...Mr. Luttrell's early life in Texas and goes into great detail about his Navy SEAL training...." Read more
Reviews with images
A Tragic Loss That Did Not Have To Be
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2008"I tried to get a hold of myself. But again in my mind I heard that terrible, terrible scream, the same one that awakens me, bullying its way into my solitary dreams, night after night, the confirmation of guilt. The endless guilt of the survivor. `Help me, Marcus! Please help me!' It was a desperate appeal in the mountains of a foreign land. It was a scream cried out in the echoing high canyons of one of the loneliest places on earth. It was the nearly unrecognizable cry of a mortally wounded creature. And it was a plea I could not answer. I can't forget it. Because it was made by one of the finest people I ever met, a man who happened to be my best friend."
In 2005, Marcus Luttrell was part of a four-man mission in the mountains of Afghanistan. A member of the elite Navy SEALs, he was tasked with killing a Taliban leader who had close ties with Osama bin Laden. This small team was hidden outside a village, surveying the area and looking for their target, when a small group of goat herders stumbled upon them. The soldiers quickly detained the two men and the teenage boy and debated what they should do. The most obvious solution and the one that would be most conducive to their mission would be to immediately execute their prisoners. But when the four soldiers put it to a vote, it was determined that they should let these people go. Morality won over personal preservation. But was it morality or fear? "Was I afraid of these guys? No. Was I afraid of their possible buddies in the Taliban? No. Was I afraid of the liberal media back in the U.S.A.? Yes. And I suddenly flashed on the prospect of many, many years in a U.S. civilian jail alongside murderers and rapists." The former prisoners quickly and inevitably reported to the Taliban leaders and the SEALs were soon fighting for their lives. Before long three of the men were dead and the fourth, Luttrell, was running for his life (though not before they killed somewhere around 100 enemy soldiers. Don't mess with the SEALs!). It was a terrible slaughter, made worse when a helicopter carrying a rescue force was shot down, killing sixteen more Americans.
Lone Survivor tells the story of this mission through the eyes of Littrell, the only man who lived to tell the tale. The book was released to great acclaim and has become a fixture on the bestseller lists. While the book is in many ways a typical war story (a description of SEAL training camp, tales of combat, lots and lots of bad language and tales of remarkable heroism) it goes beyond the story to share at least a couple of very important statements about warfare today. And this is, I think, where the reader stands to benefit most.
One of this book's most important statements is that the current rules of engagement soldiers are required to adhere to are irrational and are the product of politicians who are far from the action. "Any government that thinks war is somehow fair and subject to rules like a baseball game probably should not get into one. Because nothing's fair in war, and occasionally the wrong people do get killed." American soldiers are being forced to fight in situations where they are almost guaranteed to take casualties because of restrictives rules of engagement. These rules may make sense to politicians safely ensconced in their Washington offices, but they are utterly unfair and unsafe on the battlefield. Luttrell states that these rules are costing lives and that the United States should not be willing to fight wars that she cannot fight to win.
The other important statement is about the role of the media in modern warfare. Luttrell's disgust for the media knows no bounds. "It's been an insidious progression, the criticisms of the U.S. Armed Forces from politicians and from the liberal media, which knows nothing of combat, nothing of our training, and nothing of the mortal dangers we face out there on the front line." "I promise you, every insurgent, freedom fighter, and stray gunman in Iraq who we arrested knew the ropes, knew that the way out was to announce that he had been tortured by the Americans, ill treated, or prevented from reading the Koran or eating his breakfast or watching the television. They all knew al-Jazeera, the Arab broadcasters, would pick it up, and it would be relayed to the U.S.A., where the liberal media would joyfully accuse all of us of being murderers or barbarians or something. Those terrorist organizations laugh at the U.S. media, and they know exactly how to use the system against us." Those of us who have watched recent wars from afar can attest that this is exactly the case. The media, and particularly the liberal media, seems to side with the bad guys. Soldiers are fighting brutal warfare, all the wonder more terrified of their own nation's press than the guys shooting at them. They hardly know who the real enemy is.
Lone Survivor is an enjoyable book, typical in many of its facets, but atypical in its deeper message. It is a book Americans would do well to read and to consider.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2012I was gifted with this book by my son, and I'm so glad I read it because it is the kind of story that stays with you long after the last page is turned. In fact, I've found myself checking Face book, the Boots Campaign, YouTube and elsewhere to gather more information about this courageous and outstanding man...Marcus Luttrell. Thank you for your service seems trite acknowledgment for the heroism and sacrifice of our brave Navy SEALs, but it needs to be said. Better stated: Thank you for your endurance, your God-given talents, dedication and zeal to help make our country and its citizens free from the oppressive zealots who would kill us in their misguided mission to annihilate the Great Satan.
Lone Survivor is the true story of Operation Redwing and the lost heroes of SEAL Team 10. But it is more. The book opens with Marcus Luttrell's mission to personally meet the families of his dead comrades; not just his close brothers who were part of the mission, but also of the 16 heroes who came to rescue Marcus and his mates and who were shot down in their helicopter.
The second part of the book details Marcus' early years, his training to become a SEAL while still a teenager, and later the actual training that took place in Coronado, CA and elsewhere. The degree of difficulty of SEAL training is explained in clear detail; out of well over one hundred men, only a handful will have the stamina and mental fortitude to finish. (Luttrell explains that the body can stand almost any punishment, but the battle between success or failure is in the mind.)
Finally, after weeks and months of physical training, marksmanship, guidance and other tactical courses, the newly minted SEALs are pinned and ready to go. The final part of Lone Survivor deals with Operation Redwing and the betrayal of Petty Officers Marcus and his buddies Danny Dietz and Matthew Axelman and Lt. Michael Murphy. Also detailed is the story of Marcus Luttrell's survival, thanks in part to his overwhelming need to relate the last days of his group and in a larger part to the Pashtun villagers who protected him from the Taliban.
Luttrell and his co-author, Patrick Robinson, have penned a gripping story of courageous men and one particular man's courage against near impossible odds. This is not the type of book I normally choose, but I found it enthralling, horrifying and so gripping I couldn't put it down.
Lone Survivor has more than 1500 reviews; I doubt mine will add noticeably to them, but I have to say I found the book very engagingly written, and since Luttrell's views are similar to my own, not at all off-putting as some reviewers have commented. Also, as a published author who has checked, double, triple and quadruple checked my own manuscripts, let me say that no matter how many times you reread your work, errors get through. There was nothing in Lone Survivor that gave me an instant's pause.
Top reviews from other countries
- Ricardo López FigueroaReviewed in Mexico on July 23, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Delivery
The delivery in time. Great book to read in your break.
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in India on October 29, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Marcus
Thank you for your service and for this book. I am inspired sufficiently to continue towards the betterment of humanity. Peace and love.
- Paul HayesReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Read
What a warrior and a SEAL team that deployed to such a dangerous place. Warriors to the end and as an ex British Army Veteran I salute you all.
-
MerveReviewed in Turkey on July 15, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars bu turu sevenlere tavsiye ederim (ingilizce)
macera filmi tadinda gercek olaylara dayali muhtesem bi kitap...
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Henry 2211Reviewed in Italy on September 19, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Never Quit
La storia della sfortunata operazione “Red Wings” raccontata dall’unico superstite. Avvincente anche se bisogna un po’ lavorare sulla traduzione di alcuni termini slang....
Consigliato a chi ha amche apprezzato il film senza (come me) riuscire veramente a comprendere la decisione che ha “fatto” la storia.