Marcus Luttrell
Encyclopedia
Marcus Luttrell is a former Petty Officer First Class
and United States Navy SEAL
. He received the Navy Cross
for his actions in 2005 facing Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wing
.
, where he joined the Delta Tau Delta
fraternity.
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. He was deployed to Afghanistan
in 2005 with SEAL Team Ten. Prior to Afghanistan, Luttrell had been part of SDV-1. After Operation Redwing he transferred to SEAL Team Five and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom doing various operations there.
On June 28, 2005, Luttrell and SEAL Team 10 were assigned to a mission to kill or capture Ahmad Shah
(nom de guerre Mohammad Ismail), a high-ranking Taliban leader responsible for killings in eastern Afghanistan and the Hindu-Kush mountains.
The SEAL team was made up of Luttrell, Michael P. Murphy
, Danny Dietz
and Matthew Axelson
. Luttrell and Axelson were the team's snipers, with Luttrell also being the team medic; Dietz was in charge of communications and Murphy the team leader.
Three goat herders stumbled upon the hiding spot of the four SEALs. The herders were detained by the team but the SEALs were unable to verify any hostile intent. Murphy, the officer in charge of the SEAL team, put the fate of the goatherds to a vote. Axelson voted to murder the Afghans, and Dietz abstained. Murphy told Luttrell that he would vote the same as Luttrell so with his vote it was decided to let the Afghans go, for fear of possible criminal charges back in the United States
.
The released herders disappeared and probably immediately betrayed the team's location to local Taliban forces and within an hour the SEALs were engaged in a fire-fight against a force of enemy fighters, with estimates of their number varying between 80 and 150. The SEAL team engaged the Taliban for over two hours in a running fire-fight through the region's hills and valleys.
The four-man SEAL team had killed an indeterminate number of the Taliban despite most of them being shot several times but still carried on with the fight; however, Axelson, Dietz and Murphy were eventually killed. Luttrell barely survived after being blown off a cliff by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Team leader Michael P. Murphy
was awarded the Medal of Honor
for exposing himself to enemy fire to reach higher ground from which to transmit a call for backup.
A MH-47 Chinook helicopter was hastily dispatched upon receiving Murphy's distress call, with a force consisting of eight SEALs and eight 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment "Night Stalkers" to rescue the team, but the helicopter was shot down by an RPG upon reaching the site of the battle. All 16 men on the Chinook were killed, including Shane Patton, whose place on Operation Redwing had been taken by Danny Dietz.
Luttrell was the only survivor of the SEAL team. Badly wounded, he managed to walk and crawl seven miles (11 kilometers) to evade capture, along the way killing six more Taliban fighters. He was given shelter by friendly tribesmen from Sabray, a Pashtun
village. These villagers adhere to Pashtunwali
, which is an unwritten code of life and traditional way found among Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and dates to the pre-Islamic era. Luttrell was given sanctuary under the auspices of this tradition, which he later understood to be Lokhay Warkawal; that as a wounded stranger he would be given aid and protected against enemies at all costs. The villagers sheltered Luttrell, provided medical care, and risked their lives by refusing to turn him over to the Taliban. After several days one of the village elders trekked twenty miles (32 km) to a US base to reveal Luttrell's location, and he was finally rescued six days after the battle by US forces.
i police commandos in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in April 2008.
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.
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. Luttrell proceeded to chase the individuals through four counties in his truck armed with two 9 mm Berettas
—until Onalaska
Police apprehended the individuals. Upon arrest, the suspects verbally threatened Luttrell's life and taunted him. Alfonso Hernandez was arrested on-scene for driving without a valid drivers license and later charged with animal cruelty. 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. 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.
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. At the center of the foundation is the Lone Survivor Ranch. In a Texas ranch setting of at least 3000 acres (12.1 km²), the Lone Survivor Ranch will provide holistic care to returning servicemen.
Petty Officer First Class
Good conductvariation,12 years or moreof good conductPetty officerfirst classinsigniaU.S. Navy &U.S. Coast GuardPetty officer, first class is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S...
and United States Navy SEAL
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
. He received the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his actions in 2005 facing Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wing
Operation Red Wing
Operation Red Wings was a failed counter-insurgent mission in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, involving four members of the United States Navy SEALs, which took place on June 28, 2005....
.
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 UniversitySam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
, where he joined the Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
fraternity.
Military career
Luttrell joined the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in March 1999. He began Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL
United States Navy SEAL selection and training
The average United States Navy SEAL spends over a year in a series of formal training environments before being awarded the Special Warfare Operator Naval Rating and the Navy Enlisted Classification 5326 Combatant Swimmer or, in the case of commissioned naval officers, the designation Naval...
(BUD/S) training with Class 226 in Coronado, California
Coronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
. He graduated with Class 228 after suffering a fractured femur early in his training. He was deployed to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in 2005 with SEAL Team Ten. Prior to Afghanistan, Luttrell had been part of SDV-1. After Operation Redwing he transferred to SEAL Team Five and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom doing various operations there.
Operation Redwing
On June 28, 2005, Luttrell and SEAL Team 10 were assigned to a mission to kill or capture Ahmad Shah
Ahmad Shah (Taliban)
Ahmad Shah was a high-ranking Taliban leader who commanded a group of insurgents known as the "Mountain Tigers", operating in eastern Afghanistan and the Hindu-Kush mountains....
(nom de guerre Mohammad Ismail), a high-ranking Taliban leader responsible for killings in eastern Afghanistan and the Hindu-Kush mountains.
The SEAL team was made up of Luttrell, Michael P. Murphy
Michael P. Murphy
Michael Patrick Murphy was a United States Navy SEAL posthumously awarded the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in 2005 during the War in Afghanistan. He was the first person to be awarded the medal for actions in Afghanistan; and the first member of...
, Danny Dietz
Danny Dietz
Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Danny Phillip Dietz Jr. of Littleton, Colorado was a U.S. Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the United States' 2nd highest citation for valor, the Navy Cross, on 13 September 2006.-Biography:...
and Matthew Axelson
Matthew Axelson
Sonar Technician 2nd Class Matthew Gene Axelson was a United States Navy SEAL and Navy Cross recipient for his actions during Operation Red Wings.-Early life:...
. Luttrell and Axelson were the team's snipers, with Luttrell also being the team medic; Dietz was in charge of communications and Murphy the team leader.
Three goat herders stumbled upon the hiding spot of the four SEALs. The herders were detained by the team but the SEALs were unable to verify any hostile intent. Murphy, the officer in charge of the SEAL team, put the fate of the goatherds to a vote. Axelson voted to murder the Afghans, and Dietz abstained. Murphy told Luttrell that he would vote the same as Luttrell so with his vote it was decided to let the Afghans go, for fear of possible criminal charges back in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The released herders disappeared and probably immediately betrayed the team's location to local Taliban forces and within an hour the SEALs were engaged in a fire-fight against a force of enemy fighters, with estimates of their number varying between 80 and 150. The SEAL team engaged the Taliban for over two hours in a running fire-fight through the region's hills and valleys.
The four-man SEAL team had killed an indeterminate number of the Taliban despite most of them being shot several times but still carried on with the fight; however, Axelson, Dietz and Murphy were eventually killed. Luttrell barely survived after being blown off a cliff by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Team leader Michael P. Murphy
Michael P. Murphy
Michael Patrick Murphy was a United States Navy SEAL posthumously awarded the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in 2005 during the War in Afghanistan. He was the first person to be awarded the medal for actions in Afghanistan; and the first member of...
was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for exposing himself to enemy fire to reach higher ground from which to transmit a call for backup.
A MH-47 Chinook helicopter was hastily dispatched upon receiving Murphy's distress call, with a force consisting of eight SEALs and eight 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment "Night Stalkers" to rescue the team, but the helicopter was shot down by an RPG upon reaching the site of the battle. All 16 men on the Chinook were killed, including Shane Patton, whose place on Operation Redwing had been taken by Danny Dietz.
Luttrell was the only survivor of the SEAL team. Badly wounded, he managed to walk and crawl seven miles (11 kilometers) to evade capture, along the way killing six more Taliban fighters. He was given shelter by friendly tribesmen from Sabray, a Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
village. These villagers adhere to Pashtunwali
Pashtunwali
Pashtunwali or Pakhtunwali is a non-written ethical code and traditional lifestyle which the indigenous Pashtun people from Afghanistan and Pakistan follow. Some in the Indian subcontinent refer to it as "Pathanwali". Its meaning may also be interpreted as "the way of the Pashtuns" or "the code of...
, which is an unwritten code of life and traditional way found among Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and dates to the pre-Islamic era. Luttrell was given sanctuary under the auspices of this tradition, which he later understood to be Lokhay Warkawal; that as a wounded stranger he would be given aid and protected against enemies at all costs. The villagers sheltered Luttrell, provided medical care, and risked their lives by refusing to turn him over to the Taliban. After several days one of the village elders trekked twenty miles (32 km) to a US base to reveal Luttrell's location, and he was finally rescued six days after the battle by US forces.
Muhammad Ismail
The target of Operation Redwing, Mohammad Ismail alias Ahmad Shah, survived the American operation but was killed during a firefight with PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i police commandos in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in April 2008.
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 10Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10 is a work of non-fiction written by Marcus Luttrell with contributions from Patrick Robinson and published in 2007 by Little, Brown and Company...
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
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
'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.On April 1, 2009, four males approached Luttrell's property and killed his yellow Labrador puppy, DASY, with a .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
at approximately 1 A.M. Luttrell proceeded to chase the individuals through four counties in his truck armed with two 9 mm Berettas
Beretta 92
The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...
—until Onalaska
Onalaska, Texas
Onalaska is a city in Polk County, Texas, United States. Situated on the banks of Lake Livingston, the population was 1,174 at the 2000 census....
Police apprehended the individuals. Upon arrest, the suspects verbally threatened Luttrell's life and taunted him. Alfonso Hernandez was arrested on-scene for driving without a valid drivers license and later charged with animal cruelty. 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. 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.
Lone Survivor Foundation
In 2010, Luttrell established the Lone Survivor Foundation. Headquartered in Huntsville, TexasHuntsville, Texas
Huntsville is a city in and the county seat of Walker County, Texas, United States. The population was 35,508 at the 2010 census. It is the center of the Huntsville micropolitan area....
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. At the center of the foundation is the Lone Survivor Ranch. In a Texas ranch setting of at least 3000 acres (12.1 km²), the Lone Survivor Ranch will provide holistic care to returning servicemen.
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.External links
- Interview -