Marcus Luttrell

A hero is not necessarily someone who saves the day, but someone who displays leadership and courage in his or her everyday lives. Someone who fits these characteristics is Marcus Luttrell. Marcus Luttrell is a former United States Navy SEAL, who received the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his actions in June 2005 facing Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wings. I look up to Marcus because he risked his life to serve for our country.

Marcus Luttrell was born in Houston, Texas on November 7, 1975. He began training for the U.S. Navy SEALs at about the age of fourteen, with U.S. Army veteran Billy Shelton, who was a family-friend of Luttrel's father. Shelton trained them using different weight and endurance exercises. After high school, Luttrell attended Sam Houston State University for college, where he joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

Marcus Luttrell agreed to join the United States Navy in March 1999. After graduating bootcamp and Hospital Corpsman A-school, he transferred to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Class 226; however, due to a hurt femur he suffered on the obstacle course. The book The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228 describes the training of Class 228, and names Marcus Luttrell as one of the great graduates of that class.

While Marcus and his team were in Afghanistan, he was involved in Operation Red Wings, which was a four-man mission which was discovered by a local farmer, subsequently ambushed, and everyone was killed except for Marcus. However, Luttrel suffered major injuries, but luckily he survived. Marcus Luttrell was given the Navy Cross for his actions during Operation Red Wings.

I chose Marcus Luttrell for my hero project because I think he showed bravery and courageousness during Operation Red Wings. Even though three of his friends died on that mission and he knew he was outnumbered, he still decided to fight on. I look up to him because I think it takes a lot of gut to take on a full army knowing that you could die. This is what I find in a true hero.