In an airport recently, I picked up a paperback copy of Lone Survivor, the book published in 2006 from Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell about the U.S. mission in Afghanistan named Operation Redwing.
I had heard about the book and about parts of the mission – which killed 11 SEALS and eight Night Stalkers in June 2005 – but to be honest I never really dug deep into the real story of what happened.
As compelling as the narrative is, and heroic and sad… It will challenge what you think of the anti-American landscape in bin Laden’s backyard, and the realities of the post 9/11 world. And why we’re over there.
I’m sure most Americans are clueless about the battle at the heart of the story.
Yes, the mission – Operation Redwing – did get significant news coverage on the national scene and the local media markets of the SEALS and other military members involved. But when it comes to what really goes on in high-profile battles that our finest are involved in, only a book like Luttrell’s can bring out the true account of what happened, after the fact. (Much in the same way Black Hawk Down from Mark Bowden did for the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, when Bowden’s book came out in 1999).
That’s just the way it is with the Pentagon. We’re not always going to know what really happened beyond the headlines. That’s not a new concept. It’s just the media is hungrier today for more information, given the pressures to have something “new” for the top of the hour cable news nonsense and all-the-time Web news breakers.
The fact is… As Luttrell’s book and the battle he survived bear out, the military doesn’t always have new information to give out. It’s impossible to reveal something new during a news conference if there truly is nothing new.
Unless there are journalists with on the missions – not a wise choice in every situation – or if the military records their own video (like we saw during the initial invasion into Afghanistan after 9/11) we will not “know” what happens when the crap hits the fan… until the books come out.
The truth is… We don’t know what our Special Forces are up to in Afghanistan and elsewhere on a daily basis. Right now. But they’re doing remarkable, inspiring, brave things to put their intense training, strength and character to the test.
There’s a book in every one of those stories if you ask me.
A childhood friend of mine served in the SEALS. His wife, kids, parents and siblings probably had no idea all the things he did before and after 9/11 on the trail of the Taliban and al-Qaida. His unfortunate death in a training accident robbed him the chance to kick some more tail on behalf of his country. We should all sleep easy at night knowing there are men like him – and Luttrell and his teammates – out there.
I really can’t do Lone Survivor its true justice in this post, that’s not my intent. But Marcus Luttrell’s account will rip your heart out. As it has done to him and the families of the men who bravely battled to stay in the fight as long as they could, the men who died in the rescue attempt and the men who rescued Luttrell.
It’s interesting to note that like Black Hawk Down, a movie is being made based on Lone Survivor. I hope the actors who portray the heroes involved do them the justice that Luttrell does in his book.
For more on the details of Operation Redwing, I encourage you to watch this interview of Marcus Luttrell on NBC’s Today Show:
You also can get more insight into Operation Redwing in this Washington Post article from 2007. And, this from Army Times.
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