Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell

Best answer (regarding a question about rules of engagement and the possibility of modifying them):

If you don't have trust in us as a military, as a fighting force, as special forces; then I don't understand why you would send us over there.

I use the analogy — and I'm not trying to insult anybody — but an interviewer asked me that same question; and I was like, 'Look, how long have you been married?'

I was like, 'Do I come into your bedroom and tell you how to make love to your wife? No I don't. Alright? I assume you know how to do it.'

I've been doing this [being a special operations warfighter] for a long time. So have the generals and the admirals and the colonels who tell me how to fight. So I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't come onto our battlefield and tell us how to win this war.

Marcus Luttrell is the author of Lone Survivor, which just came out. It documents Operation Redwing, the worst loss of life in SEAL history. He survived the initial assault, escaped and then was sheltered by an Afghan village before being rescued.

He and the men he served with are amazing. Lone Survivor is a must read.

Another gem:

“If I ever rounded a mountainside in Afghanistan and came face to face with Osama bin Laden ..., I’d shoot him dead in cold blood. At which point, urged on by an outraged American media, the military would probably incarcerate me under the jail, never mind in it. And then I’d be charged with murder.

Tell you what. I’d still shoot the sonofabitch.”

or this:

“The truth is, any government that thinks war is somehow fair and subject to rules like a baseball game probably should not get into one.”

This is an absolute must read.

What this small SEAL SR went through in the Mtns of Stan is stuff of legend.....And the reality is we have Teams doing this nightly in both Stan and Iraq.

Small SEAL Teams risking all 24/7 tracking down and bringing justice to an evil that most don't or refuse to acknowledge is out there....

God bless SEALs Murphy, Axe, Dietz....what they went through and how they conducted themselves all the way to the moments of their deaths is what being a SEAL, a warrior is all about. Out numbered over 150 to 4.....They took out over a majority of this enemy...on their own turf...after being compromised. Each man gave all for the other...

I know that this is an old thread, but I have a question about Marcus Luttrell. OK, I just read the book and really liked it. The story reads like a novel, with spiraling action that almost seems unbelievable. For example, Lutrell says that he was blown out of a hiding place with a rocket.

Anyway, I was really inspired by the book. Then this Sunday at church I met a Army Ranger back from Afghanistan and I was talking to him about the war and stuff and mentioned Lone Survivor. He immediately said, “Oh, that guy made up most of that story.” He said that the SEALS are not respected by the Rangers because the SEALS are wreckless and arrogant. He said that he was in the area during the Lone Survivor events and while he wasn’t on the mission, he knows that the story “doesn’t add up.”

He said that one funny detail is that Marcus complained that the army helicopter dropped their ropes after the insertion which compromised their security since the ropes could have been found. But, that apparently dropping ropes is standard procedure.

So, I thought. The Ranger’s reaction must be just rivalry between forces. But, then I starting thinking about all of the extreme details in the book and how it sounded like a script for a movie. For example, right before he is picked up and rescued, he stares through the sights of his rifle into the eyes of the terrorist commander he was sent to kill, but because it is a stand off he doesn’t fire. That would make a great scene.

Also, he reveals that he lies to his captors twice about having diabetes and that he was a doctor. But, he doesn’t explain why these lies were necessary since his captors were friendly. Does he have a character problem with the truth?

On the other hand, the military must have believed him because his buddy Mikey received the Medal of Honor and I assume that they have to provide some kind of fact finding investigation.

I want to believe this guy is an honest hero, but I wonder.

Question: do any of you know if Luttrell could have made up details of the story?

I can see your concern with the integrity of the book Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. However, I have read extensively about the SEALs and their training, and can honestly say it's just not in their nature to lie about heroism. He really is not gaining anything by glorifying his friends. He rarely mentions in the book his heroism, he is constantly praising Ltn. Michael Murphy, P.O Danny Dietz, and P.O. Matthew Axelson. Not to mention, the military does its own investigation. They try to see if there are any inconsistencies in the story, the last thing they want is to find out it was all a lie after awarding the Medal of Honor, which doesn't come easy. They can tell by the wounds on the brave men who died on that mountain if Marcus's story adds up. They knew how much ammo was on each man when they landed and how much ammo was left on each man. There are countless ways to tell if he was lying. Not to mention they questioned Gulab and asked for his accounts as well. The SEALs have such a respected name not because of brutality but because of what they accomplish and how they accomplish it. Marcus is donating all proceeds of his book to charities, and planing on becoming a doctor. He is not living life making money off his book. He is someone who lost his best friends in the worst possible way and wants the world to know what we deserve to know about the men who quietly defend it and honor it the way no other person can. I do find it disheartening that an Army Ranger would feel the need to take down a Navy SEAL the way he did. Your Ranger friend states that SEALs are wreckless and arrogant. Wreckless? Have you ever heard on the liberal news of todays time of a SEAL being wreckless? of a SEAL dishonoring his country? Arrogant? Well lets just say that anyone who dares to do what a SEAL does needs to be a bit arrogant - actually they better be arrogant and make damn sure they know what they are doing. As to your comments about how the book plays out like a movie.. sometimes life is a movie. I think if you follow any given day with a SEAL it will play out like a movie. You also state that he lies but doesn't explain why, but that tells me that you didn't pay attention when you read the book. Marcus states that he told the pashtuns that he was a diabetic so they would not deprive him of water. He wasn't sure yet if they would harm him or give him up or even if they were off duty talban warriors. He also states that he said he was a doctor and not a SEAL so they would look at him as a civilian who could help them. He explains that many times in the book. He even states that he thinks after a while they didn't believe him anymore. You also state that Marcus states he was blown out of a hiding place with a rocket. Have you ever seen pictures of the areas he's talking about? Ever take a look at those mountains? Remember in the book how he explains how torn up he was? How the pants were blown right off of him? I dont mean to come off rude, but did you read the book? He explains everything in such detail. I think you should be questioning why your Ranger friend wasn't on the mission, but yet the SEALs were called into action for that mission. Again, dont want to come off rude, but I think it's important that we, as Americans, stick together in defending our military. Dont forget it is them out there laying their life down not us. And if your Ranger friend doesn't understand that, that he should rethink his commitments. To everyone who read this and is in or was in service, I thank you for all you do for this country and for the freedom you continue to give us every day.

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