Lone Survivor

Recently I read the novel Lone Survivor: the eyewitness account of operation redwing and the lost heroes of seal team 10 written by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson. This book outlined Marcus’ life as a navy seal. In the beginning you learn a little bit about his childhood, how he was inspired to become a Navy Seal and his preparation through middle and high school. From there he went to boot camp and became a US Marine with little difficulty, already having the training he did. Immediately after boot camp, he did not rest and went straight to Coronado to become a Navy Seal. He survived through Hell Week and all of the insane training of the Seals. Only the best even thought about being Seals, and only the best of them even showed up in Coronado to train. By the end of the training more than 80% of the class had dropped, so you could say only the best of the best of the best of the really awesome guys became Seals. After he received his trident and became a Seal, he kept training, going to sniper school, a medic, and an airborne Seal. He served in Iraq and after years of experience, was deployed to the mountains in Afghanistan as part of Seal Team 10.

For the first few weeks everything went well, then came Operation Red Wing on June 27, 2005. This was an important mission to take out a man high up in the Taliban command, it was critical they were not found so they formed a small team of four. This team was Marcus, Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, and Michael Murphy. The mission started smoothly but then it all went wrong. I will not go into specific details but the book is titled Lone Survivor for a reason, The day after they were deployed for Operation Redwing, Marcus was the only one left, surrounded and severely injured. About 10 days after he was left alone, he was saved, and he returned home. This book shows the dedication and supreme skill of the US Navy Seals, they truly are the best there is and this book tells an amazing story showing their true patriotism and ironclad will.

This novel was very well written and it was only enhanced by the first person account of the activities. There were times that the challenges overcome were so incredulous that I would have believed it was a work of fiction if I didn’t know better. This book put us into the mind, body, and soul of a great american warrior.

This book was written for teenagers and adults to share the heroic story and sacrifice of Seal Team 10. Marcus had to survive so everyone could hear the story of the heroics performed by the fallen, Danny, Axe, and Mikey. Without this novel, their heroic actions and sacrifices would have passed unnoticed.

Luttrell and Robinson used a lot of military vernacular throughout the book, such as ISLiD (image stabilization and light distribution unit), QRE (quick reaction force), and MRE (meals ready to eat). They also had a combined signature, asking a lot of questions, especially of themselves and the reader. Here is an example, “As long as it takes, was their obvious belief. In the end they assume they will rid their holy Muslim soil of the infidel invaders. After all, they always have, right? Sorry, nyet?” (Luttrell 177). These questions made us think about the ideas and take them farther than we would have normally. 

This book was written as if he was telling this story to a good buddy for the most part, but every now and then it got a little more serious, and at some times very sad.

I give this book 5 Mark 12s

Here is my rating system:

1 Mark 12: Couldn’t finish it...

2 Mark 12: Finished it, with a few naps in between chapters.

3 Mark 12: I read it, it was good but nothing special.

4 Mark 12: A good book, I would recommend it to everyone.

5 Mark 12: I could not put the book down! I couldn’t do anything until I finished this book.

Marcus Luttrell Receiving the Navy Cross 

from President Bush