Marcus Luttrell

Marcus Luttrell

Luttrell at the 2007 Texas Book Festival in Austin, Texas.
Nickname(s) "Southern Boy", "The One", "The Lone Survivor"
Born (1975-11-07) November 7, 1975
Houston, Texas, U.S.[1]
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service 1999–2007
Rank Hospital Corpsman First Class
Unit

United States Navy SEALs

Battles/wars

Iraq War

War in Afghanistan

Awards Navy Cross[2][3]
Purple Heart
Other work Service: A Navy SEAL at War (2012)
Lone Survivor (2007)
Lone Survivor Foundation

Marcus Luttrell (born November 7, 1975) 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. Luttrell was a Hospital Corpsman First Class by the end of his eight-year career in the United States Navy.[2]

Lutrell co-hosts After Action, a TV show where former special operations veterans talk about issues in the United States. The show is executive produced by Glenn Beck and airs on TheBlaze.

Early life and education

Luttrell was born in Houston, Texas on November 7, 1975. He began training for the U.S. Navy SEALs at the age of fourteen, with U.S. Army veteran Billy Shelton, who lived near Luttrell's home. He trained every day with his twin brother, Morgan, and others who aspired to join the U.S Navy and other Special Operations Forces. Shelton trained them using various weight and endurance exercises. After high school, Luttrell attended Sam Houston State University.[4]

Career

United States Navy

Luttrell enlisted in the United States Navy in March 1999.[5] After graduating from training camp and Hospital Corpsman A-school, he transferred to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Class 226; however, due to a fractured femur he suffered on the obstacle course, he graduated with Class 228 on April 21, 2000. Luttrell received his SEAL trident February 2, 2001. The book The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228 by Dick Couch describes the training of Class 228, and names Luttrell as one of the graduates of that class.

After completing BUD/S, he attended Army jump school and SEAL Qualification Training. He was then sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for the Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) course. SOCM was an additional six months of advanced training in conventional and unconventional medical skills, ranging from diagnosis and treatment of many conditions to advanced emergency medicine and battlefield life support.[4][6] He was deployed to Iraq with SEAL Team 5 on April 14, 2003, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq to root out and destroy leftover Iraqi resistance and joined in the search for WMDs. Afterwards he carried out operations to eliminate or capture terrorists.[7]

He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 with SEAL Team Ten as part of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One (SDV-1).[4] While in Afghanistan, he was involved in Operation Red Wings, during which the four-man Special Reconnaissance element with SDV-1 was discovered by local herdsmen, subsequently ambushed, and all killed except for Luttrell. Luttrell was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the operation. The team knew the local herdsmen might reveal their whereabouts to Taliban fighters but because they were not armed combatants, they were allowed to leave despite the risk to themselves and their mission.[4]

The ambush during Operation Red Wings was intense. The four SEALs were attacked from three sides, and included fire from PK machine guns, AK-47s, RPG-7s, and 82mm mortars. The attack forced the SEALs into the northeast gulch of the Shuryek Valley side of Sawtalo Sar. The SEALs made a number of attempts to contact their combat operations center with a PRC-148 MBITR (Multi Band Inter/Intra Team Radio) and then with an Iridium Satellite Phone. They could not establish consistent communication, however, other than for a period long enough to indicate that they were under attack. Three of the four team members were killed, and Luttrell, being the only survivor, was left unconscious with a number of fractures, a broken back, and numerous shrapnel wounds. Members of SEAL Team 10 attempted a rescue during the firefight but their helicopter was shot down and all aboard were killed. Luttrell regained consciousness and evaded the pursuing enemy, with the help of local Pashtun villagers, who eventually sent an emissary to the nearest U.S. base to secure his safe rescue, and ultimately save his life. After recovering from his injuries, he returned to active duty and deployed to Ramadi during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006 as part of SEAL Team Five. He later had his knees blown out and fractured his spine again. This ultimately led to his discharge.

The target of Operation Red Wings,[1] Mohammad Ismail alias Ahmad Shah, survived the American operation but was killed during a firefight with Pakistani police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in April 2008.[8]

Returning home

Luttrell returned to the U.S. in 2007,[9] and co-authored the New York Times bestseller Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.[10] A film version starring Mark Wahlberg was released on December 25, 2013.

Luttrell was medically discharged from the Navy in 2007 and was granted a medical retirement through the Board for the Correction of Naval Records in 2009.[9]

His latest book, co-authored with James D. Hornfischer, Service: A Navy SEAL at War, was released in May 2012, by Little, Brown and Company.[11][12]

Lone Survivor Foundation

In 2010, Luttrell established the Lone Survivor Foundation. Headquartered in Houston, Texas the foundation's mission is to "restore, empower, and renew hope for our wounded warriors and their families through health, wellness, and therapeutic support." The vision is to "provide exceptional therapeutic, outdoor, and unique opportunities that optimize recovery and healing of affected American wounded service members and their families."[13]

Luttrell and The Lone Survivor Foundation partnered with The Boot Campaign[14] to help show tangible appreciation of America’s active duty military, raise awareness of the challenges they face upon return, and support the transition home.[15]

Personal life

Luttrell married Melanie Juneau on November 27, 2010 in Texas. Their son Axe, named after fallen SEAL comrade Matthew Axelson, was born on May 8, 2011. On January 14, 2012, at an event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, he announced that he and his wife were expecting their second child. Their daughter, Addie, was born on August 26, 2012.

Marcus’ twin brother Morgan Luttrell is also a retired Navy SEAL who is pursuing an advanced degree in applied cognition at the University of Texas. Morgan served eight years as an enlisted sailor and six as an officer; he left the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant.[2][16][17][18]

Luttrell has endorsed former Texas governor Rick Perry's 2016 presidential campaign, and was even present at Perry's formal announcement on June 4, 2015, alongside his brother Morgan. After polling very low for months, Perry dropped out of the race for the nomination in October 2015.

DASY

As part of Luttrell's recuperation he was given a yellow Labrador puppy. He named the dog DASY. Each letter of the name "DASY" represents one of the members of his team—Danny Dietz, Matthew "Axe" Axelson, Southern boy (Marcus), and Michael "Yankee" Murphy. She was given to him in recovery to help him through rehabilitation.[19]

On April 1, 2009, four men approached Luttrell's property and killed DASY with a .357 Magnum revolver at approximately 1 A.M.[19][20] Luttrell proceeded to chase the individuals through four counties in his truck armed with two 9 mm Berettas until Onalaska Police apprehended the individuals.[21] Upon arrest, the suspects verbally threatened Luttrell's life and taunted him.[20] Alfonso Hernandez was arrested on-scene for driving without a valid driver's license and later charged with animal cruelty.[22] Michael Edmonds turned himself in on April 7, was booked, and posted bond on the same charge. The other two individuals were not indicted. The males are also suspects in the killings of other neighborhood dogs.[19] On November 29, 2011, Marcus posted on his Facebook Page that "Court date on Thursday for DASY's killer's I'll keep y'all posted on what happens. It's only been almost 3 years glad it's finally here" and again on December 1, 2011, saying they were found guilty.[23]

On March 7, 2012, Alfonso Hernandez was given the maximum sentence of two years in a state jail for the felony charge of animal cruelty and fined $1,000. After his guilty plea and testimony against Hernandez, Michael John Edmonds was sentenced to five years probation and fined $1,000 for the same offense. At the sentencing, Luttrell testified that he was “still pretty upset” about the killing of DASY and that he felt both defendants should have gotten the maximum sentence.[24]

In popular culture

In the 2013 film Lone Survivor, Luttrell was portrayed by actor Mark Wahlberg.[25]

Luttrell also makes a cameo appearance in the film (uncredited), making a significant appearance in at least three scenes in the film and is present in other scenes as well. He first appears as one of the SEALs, referred to as "Frankie" by Lt. Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), lightheartedly hazing rookie SEAL Shane Patton (Alexander Ludwig) before the mission, jokingly giving Shane his first mission or "op" of cleaning the table, supplemented by knocking over a drink. His second appearance is during the presentation of the rules of engagement for Operation Red Wings where he can be seen shaking his head at the rules governing return fire. This scene is significant. In his book, Lone Survivor, Marcus explains extensively how these rules created substantial risk for the forces in Afghanistan. His third appearance is later in the film as one of the 16 special operators aboard the doomed Chinook helicopter sent to rescue Marcus (Mark Wahlberg) and his team. The camera stops on him and several real-life SEALs just before the Taliban's rocket-propelled grenade comes through the open rear bay door and impacts the Chinook's interior, killing everyone aboard. "I was on the other side of the mountain when those guys came to help me," Luttrell says of his real-life experience, "so getting to die on the helicopter in the movie was a very powerful moment for me."[26]

Luttrell appears in a Season 9 episode of the A&E series Duck Dynasty, visiting West Monroe, Louisiana to honor two wounded Marines for their service.

References

  1. 1 2 Marcus Luttrell; Patrick Robinson (12 June 2007). Lone survivor: the eyewitness account of Operation Redwing and the lost heroes of SEAL Team 10. Hachette Digital, Inc. pp. 27–. ISBN 978-0-316-06759-1. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Marcus Luttrell". Navy Seals. 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-10. In 2006, Petty Officer Luttrell was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism.
  3. ↑ "LIEUTENANT MICHAEL P. MURPHY – United States Navy". United States Navy. 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Luttrell, Marcus; Patrick Robinson (March 2006). Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. Back Bay Books. ISBN 0-316-06759-8.
  5. ↑ "Bio". Marcus Luttrell.
  6. ↑ SEAL of Honor: Operation Red Wings and the Life of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, USN by Gary Williams (pg. 135)
  7. ↑ "Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 [Audio Download]". Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Matt Dupee (April 17, 2008). "Bara bin Malek Front commander killed in Pakistani shootout". long war journal. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  9. 1 2 Engel, Mac (9 January 2014). "Uncomfortable questions with SEAL Marcus Luttrell". The Big Mac Blog. Dallas, Texas: Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 5 June 2015. Medical papers went through in ’09. Came off the line in ’07.
  10. ↑ "The New York Times Bestseller List, July 1, 2007" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  11. ↑ Luttrell, Marcus. "Service". Little Brown & Company.
  12. ↑ Luttrell, Marcus; Hornfischer, James D. (2012). Service: A Navy SEAL at War. ISBN 978-0-316-18536-3. Retrieved 2012-03-10
  13. ↑ "Lone Survivor Foundation". Lone Survivor Foundation. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  14. ↑ "Help the Boot Girls support American soldiers by purchasing combat boots!". Boot Campaign. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  15. ↑ "The Boot Campaign Mission: Support returning US Soldiers through proceeds raised from Boot sales". Boot Campaign. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  16. ↑ Slavin, Erik (7 June 2010). "‘He epitomizes what a SEAL is’". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  17. ↑ Alexander, Bryan (30 December 2013). "Marcus Luttrell: Dealing with 'Lone Survivor' wounds". USA Today. Retrieved 5 June 2015. as Marcus wanted his twin brother Morgan, also a SEAL, to return from duty in Iraq to attend the wedding.
  18. ↑ "Morgan Luttrell: Research Assistant". Center for Brain Health. Dallas, Texas: The University of Texas. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  19. 1 2 3 Glenn Beck (April 6, 2009). "Glenn Beck: Teen punks murder American hero's dog". Glenn Beck.com. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  20. 1 2 Schiller, Dane (April 9, 2009). "Survivor of war loses dog to random violence". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  21. ↑ Associated Press (April 9, 2009). "War hero helps nab suspects in dog killing". MSNBC. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  22. ↑ Brown, Joe (April 8, 2009). "Alleged Dog Shooters Chased Down by War Hero". KBTX-TV. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  23. ↑ Stark, Cody (December 2, 2011). "Man convicted in death of war hero's dog". The Huntsville Item.
  24. ↑ Stark, Cody (March 7, 2012). "New Waverly man gets max for shooting war hero’s dog". The Huntsville Item. Retrieved 2012-03-10
  25. ↑ "Lone Survivor". IMDB. 2013.
  26. ↑ "Lone Survivor True Story vs Movie – Real Marcus Luttrell, Mike Murphy". Historyvshollywood.com. Retrieved 2014-04-14.

External links

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