Marcus Luttrell

(http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?r ())

In the dead of night four highly trained Navy SEALS fast rope deep into enemy territory. They are about to embark on a routine assassination mission that would become catastrophic. Marcus Luttrell was one of these men who braved into the Afghan mountains. Today, Luttrell, standing six foot five inches, 230 pounds is out of the service and lives near his family home on a ranch outside of Houston, TX.  However, he didn't always live a peaceful life as a horse farmer. His career as a Navy SEAL saw him travel to Afghanistan on many missions, the most notable being Operation Redwing.  Luttrell's team of four men were dropped off by helicopter when they began to travel along their pre-planned four-mile trek. The goal was to eliminate a radical Islamic leader called Ahmad Shah, who had been responsible for many attacks on US Marines. As the team moved along the barren mountains trying to find the best position to eliminate Shah, a herd of goats descended on their position, followed shortly by three shepherds. The SEAL team moved quickly and captured the two men and a boy. Now the team faced a pressing question - what to do with the farmers?  Should they kill the group to silence them and keep moving, or let them go free? Despite the risk of letting them go they knew if they killed them it would be unfavorably reported by the media, both home and abroad.  The team decided to set them free and risk the herders telling the terrorist below of their position. Not long after, an estimated eighty to one hundred forty Taliban fighters attacked the four SEALS. All three of Luttrell's teammates died on that mountain. Luttrell was the only survivor.  Throughout the battle, Luttrell exhibited qualities of a true hero, an iron grit and a brave heart, by fighting tirelessly and refusing to surrender.

Pictured above is Luttrell and his team. (https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-lone-surv ())

Luttrell's willingness to never stop fighting and refusal to give up is the first thing that makes him a hero. Luttrell, who had been fighting the Taliban for a considerable amount of time even after his team was killed, was severely injured. In an interview with Ms. Rachel Martin of NPR News Luttrell discusses the extreme measures he took to survive:

Mr. LUTTRELL: I crawled into the side of that mountain there and covered myself with rocks, and took mud and anything I could find and packed it into the open [bullet and shrapnel] holes in my legs and stuff like that. I laid there all day. Then night came around, I finally got the feeling back in my legs. I stood up, and the best I could walked, kind of walk-crawled for at least four miles off that mountain and then onto another one. And then I got shot again the next day, then I crawled three more miles and finally found some water. (The 'Lone Survivor' )

This quote exemplifies his resilience. Pushing on through adversity and pain in order to survive showed how Luttrell would do anything to stay in the fight.  Luttrell didn't have access to medicine or even bandages, so he used what he had. His amazing, undying will is similar to something you would see in some farfetched action movie; however, it is all real. This mindset of no surrender is an archetype of an American hero, who in recent years, has been in short supply when we need them most. While writing his book, Marcus Luttrell phrased the ideology of a SEAL warrior and himself as a man: "I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight!" Luttrell embodies what that means. Fighting alone for days and never giving up despite being shot, broken, and battered exemplified his iron grit.   His dedication to his country, his fallen team, and the concept of liberty around the world makes him a hero. Luttrell experienced the death of his teammates which included his best friend, was shot several times and broke his back while being pursued by Taliban warriors.  Through all this, any man would be justified in just giving up. However, Luttrell is worth more than that. He is a hero.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcXRNhbU7Mc ())

The second aspect that demonstrates Luttrell's heroism is his intense bravery.  For example, in a time of great struggle, he rose to the needs of his team defending them with every ounce of strength he had.  When they had died, he continued, alone and outnumbered but never afraid.  Luttrell describes a scene after his teammates had perished:  after being blown off a cliff and being rained on by enemy bullets, Luttrell states "No panic, rocksteady, firing accurately, conserving ammunition, missing nothing" (Luttrell 262).

(http://broadside.navytimes.com/2009/04/15/if-i-cat ())

Perhaps Luttrell's bravest moment is deciding to spare the life of the Afghan goat herders. When the team captured and restrained them, Luttrell voted to allow them to live in lieu of killing the likely Taliban supporters. In Lone Survivor he writes, "Was I afraid of these guys? No. Was I afraid of their possible Taliban buddies? No" (Luttrell 232).  When confronted with the possibility of taking a life that didn't need to be taken Luttrell voted no. Despite the fact that it could get them all killed, Luttrell risked his team's life in order to spare theirs. This was not a reckless display of bravado, but a show of strength and courage in the face of great danger. Luttrell's bravery shines in this mission. Luttrell walked through a valley of death and feared no evil.

The crest of Luttrell's SEAL team during Redwing (http://metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/SEAL_Team_10)

Redwing defined Luttrell's valor and irrepressible nature, forever cementing him in the eyes of America as a hero. Mr. Luttrell, the only survivor of Operation Redwing proved himself in the face of danger and kept fighting until he was rescued. He fought for liberty and freedom for the world, and to protect his nation. Now that Luttrell is out of the service, he tours the country telling the tale of his team's tragic demise.  On one such occasion a crowd of hundreds gathered to see him as summarized by Florida Times-Union reporter Teresa Stepzinski, "Luttrell was the keynote speaker at the 25th annual 'Celebrate Independence' event.  Interrupted by several standing ovations, he spoke of that harrowing mission and the valor of his fellow SEALs as they fought. Luttrell shared his perspective on life as well as overcoming challenges, which said was shaped in part by family," (Teresa Stepzinski). Men like Luttrell inspire the community and the country.  Through his heroism, he inspires a strong sense of nationalism, the feeling of pride in one's nation. Luttrell is someone the entire country can look to as a role model. His bravery and resilience prove to be light in a world that can often seem dark.  During Operation Redwing, the United States lost three great men. However, through the trials of those days, the newest American hero was born.