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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.

Thank you Maria56 for your defense of Marcus and Lone Survivor. Others on this page also cleared up a lot of your concerns which is encouraging to me. I really liked the book and was inspired by it thoroughly and recommend it to everyone.

That is why I was bothered when my Ranger friend was so emphatic — only after I pressed him for his opinion.

I agree with everything that you say and that is why I posted these concerns to get some answers to my questions.

I wish that Marcus was making some money from this book and planned film because he deserves it for sure.

I would never want to question the integrity of the SEALS who I admire. But, my friend said that he was in the same area and that the Rangers “would never go up on those mountains because there is no cover.”

That is why he said that they were wreckless — I guess he thought that the team could have refused the mission.

Yes, just because the book reads like a script for a film is not proof that it isn’t reality.

I was bothered with doubt when I starting thinking about the fact that Marcus was the target of large numbers of fighters shooting at him as he fled, but didn’t get shot. That detail seemed kind of funny.

Good point on the need to lie to the villages so that he could get water. But, would they know that Diabetics need lots of water?

I don’t blame him for lying. Let these guys lie to the enemy all that they need to if they can save more lives.

Also, good point on why we should trust the military to properly investigate Medal of Honor stories. They must have had more evidence than just the testimony of Marcus.

I had to post this in case others challenged the story. Seems like everyone has reacted like you did. That is great.

Hope that this didn’t upset you. I too am a huge fan of the SEALs.