Marcus Luttrell says part of himself died on the Afghanistan mountain where his three Navy SEAL comrades perished in the ill-fated 2005 mission Operation Red Wings. But miraculously, as the film Lone Survivor (opening limited Wednesday, wide Jan. 10) depicts, an unconscious Luttrell was saved by an Afghan villager after crawling miles to safety. The decisive point is that point in time and/or space where the stakes for your team are highest and where advantage could swing wildly between friend and foe. Although they could not establish consistent communication, they communicated for a period long enough to indicate that they were under attack. You can read the full Newsweek report here. However, he was killed in April 2008 during a firefight with Pakistani police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Gulab contests that account, saying that when he found and rescued Luttrell he still had his combat load, 11 full magazines. I ask him how his experience with them changed the way he saw the world. The SEALs used PRC-148 MBITR (Multi Band Inter/Intra Team Radio) to make a number of attempts to contact their combat operations center. To put what just happened in perspective, that's a bit like New England Patriots QB Tom Brady under center on a crucial fourth down during the Super Bowl, reading the defense, and right before snapping the ball, Coach Bill Belichick calling timeout, running onto the field and saying, "Hey, Brady tell you what, how about you let me take this one? It's not worth it. Gulab was told: "You will die. On August 26, 2012, the couple welcomed their daughter Addie. He married his wife called Melanie Juneau. What injuries did Marcus Luttrell suffer? I wouldn't lay down and quit.". The couple married each other on November 27, 2010, in Texas. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Chris won some commendations for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat. 800 pieces of evidence. Marcus Luttrell, a decorated Navy SEAL, tells his harrowing story of journeying into the mountainous border of Afgahnistan and Pakistan at the Roanoke Regional Forum.Photo: roanokecollege CC BY 2.0 In addition, Gulab claimed that he was not given a fair opportunity to tell his side of the story. But then, desperate and defeated, he lowered his gun. Marcus Luttrell injuries: 1. Heresy in the world of military aviation, but in his mind, we were hired to serve in America's premier helicopter force because of our professional judgment, not our ability to read a checklist. Following his bands success of killing 19 SEALS and Nightstalkers in Operation Red Wings, Ahmed Shah fled to Pakistan. The video he produced that s "We didn't talk about it in the book, you don't see it in the movie, and it's kind of crazy that you picked up on that. These are the men and women who, when the president asks in hushed tones if our nation has the capability to fly specially adapted helicopters into the darkest corners of the globe, raise their hands and volunteer for missions no one else will try. On July 2, he was rescued by Army Rangers and Afghan National Army soldiers in the woods when Mohammad and several villagers were trying to get Marcus to a safe location. he inquired. They picked him up and carried him to their village. In 2006, he was deployed to Ramadi during Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of SEAL Team Five. But yes sir, I have a great understanding now, and I try to tell people a lot of people think we're at war with Afghanistan, but we're not, we're at war with the Taliban. I patted Goodnature on the shoulder, jabbed Russell in the ribs and wished them all luck. "But yes sir, it's winding down for me, and I'm thankful for that. Marcus stands at the height of 6 ft 5 in ( Approx 1.96m). I fell back on all of my training to get through all that I went through out there during that week. Not covered in the book or film is Luttrell's headstate during those four days in the village (Sabray). Alligators were wrestled. 759 During the firefight, "My guys are dying out here we need help," he pleaded. The Taliban fighters, now unaware of his location, continued firing for some time before stopping. I play it all over in my head a million times, going through it in real life," he says. Ambush : One bullet wound to the leg and a fractured back in 3 places Evasion : Severe dehydration and a stomach virus from unfiltered water I ran over to my platoon sergeant, Sgt. Marcus Luttrell, played in the film by Mark Wahlberg, describes how he survived his ordeal. It's little surprise that his story has been turned into a Hollywood film, but it's a relief that that film is great. Come on. The only time Berg requested that Luttrell stay away from the production was during some of the gorier scenes. On December 25, 2013, a film version starring Mark Wahlberg came out. Hernandez complained that his trial attorney was ineffective for a number of reasons, but the appellate court disagreed, affirming the conviction. ", I was stunned. In 2007, Marcus returned to the U.S. and co-authored the New York Times bestseller titled Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. He's just a strong man. "I've been coming here since I got hurt and they do a great job of keeping me walking straight and living a semi-productive life.". The four SEALs were attacked from three sides during the ambush of Operation Red Wings. Prior to commencing the operation, he'd looked at the maps and was disconcerted. It's 4:30pm in Florida when Marcus Luttrell calls. I think he wanted to get out of there, and my house gave him an opportunity to do that.. Marcus earns an average salary of $77,395 per year. Marcus Luttrell Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Luttrell was involved with the film every step of the way, and Berg invited him to assemble a small team of SEALs to train the key cast (Mark Wahlberg as Luttrell, alongside Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster and Emile Hirsch) on a three-week bootcamp. Marcus is 46 years old. 'It's good to be back to a regular farm boy. He and the men of Turbine 33 and Spartan 01 never will be forgotten. "The actors did a great job, and I hope people go and watch it and it resonates with them. While there, he became a member of the Epsilon Zeta chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. That, says Luttrell, was his breaking point. However, he has not shared any information about his parents. This podcast has become a beacon of hope and resilience to those who are facing the impossible. They decided to turn them loose. He is a man of above-average stature. I think he wanted to get away from Texas, where he was constantly reminded of his dead brothers. Axe and Murphy were both shot in the chest, then Axe was shot in the head. Luttrell, now crawling for his life through the night, couldn't speak, his throat full of dirt, his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth. 'Lokhay warkawal,' it's called a code of honour. Judge OKs autopsy finding as testimony starts in retrial of ex-Waco day care owner, Olympic-winning pole vaulter, pastor Bob Richards dies at 97, Man ejected from motorcycle in Waco dies Saturday night, Big stage doesn't faze La Vega girls, who believe they're more than ready, Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else, The impact of climate change will be felt worse in these three U.S. cities, Scientists reveal hidden corridor in Great Pyramid of Giza, Greece train crash: Public anger grows as death toll rises. Here, Luttrell is pictured in December with his new therapy dog, Rigby, acquired after DASY was killed. Reich, along with Goodnature, Russell, Shamus Goare, Kip Jacoby, Marcus Muralles, Tre Ponder, and Chris Scherkenbach along with Navy SEALs Kristensen, Jacques Fontan, Dan Healy, Jeff Lucas, Michael McGreevy, Shane Patton, James Suh and Jeff Taylor were shot down while attempting an insertion near Marcus Luttrell and Killed In Action. Lone Survivor was based on or inspired by actual events. It is far from a documentary retelling of exactly what happened during Operation Red Win Here's what to know as Alex Murdaughs murder trial winds down. The tale when relayed by words written in ink on paper, while still incredible, pales in comparison to personally hearing the story from the man who was actually there, who actually lived it. Rigby, who is a steady and calming presence and today a member of the his family. What injuries did marcus luttrell suffer? Luttrell, the only survivor, suffered a number of fractures, a broken back, and multiple shrapnel wounds after three of the team members were killed. During the firefight, members of SEAL Team 10 attempted to rescue their helicopter, but it was shot down, killing everyone on board. 'Did it hurt when you got shot?' 75 witnesses. 'What I couldn't see was a place to hide,' wrote Luttrell in his book, regarding the rough, stony landscape. I locked eyes with Russell, positioned at the back of the ramp, and we shared a look as they rolled away. It's one of those things where we manipulate the mind into tricking the body that you can accomplish anything just as long as you keep getting back up. Maj. Reich, however, felt otherwise. But it made an impression, the elementary school music teacher leaving . Marcus Luttrell took quite a beating during Operation Red Wings and beyond. ** Marcus with his service dog, Mr. Rigby In a 2014 interview with The Also, they used an Iridium satellite phone. After regaining consciousness, Marcus evaded the pursuing enemy with the help of local Pashtun villagers including Mohammad Gulab, Eventually, Mohammad was sent as an emissary to the nearest U.S. base to secure Marcuss safe rescue and ultimately saved his life. "Yes, now that it's out, my teammates will forever be immortalised, and that's all I ever really wanted," he says. And then they were gone. A Waco appeals court upheld the animal cruelty conviction of the man who shot former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrells therapy dog, DASY (not pictured). In 2005, while on a reconnaissance mission in the Afghan mountains, 19 SEALs were ambushed and killed; Luttrell survived by sheer force of spirit, strength and luck, when, having been found half-dead by some Afghani villagers, he was taken in by them and protected from the Taliban. But Luttrell just couldn't stand that goats' milk. His dog was lying dead in a ditch, and two men were standing over the dog, talking and laughing, according to trial transcripts summarized by the appellate court. It's not like you can just walk out and think this guy's good and introduce yourself, that doesn't work like that over there. ", He's happy to be finally done with it. United States Navy SEALs are notorious for their quick, tactical interventions and are bound by a code of honor that embraces the practice of never leaving a man behind. Maj. Reich was a driven leader and pilot, just like when he played ball. Animal cruelty conviction upheld for killer of Lone Survivor dog. Marcus Luttrell injuries: Broken back due to falling from the mountain. He had RPG and grenade fragments all over his body. His shoulder was torn out. His knees were destroyed. Pretty severe facial damage including a broken nose. He suffered a broken pelvis. He bit his tongue in half. Yes, all of the bodies of the SEALs who participated in Operation Redwings were recovered. ** Relative location of the bodies The day was June 28th He grabbed his rifle as one of them yelled at him, and he flicked off the safety catch. He told Luttrell to tell his wife Cindy Dietz was shot again, and continued firing as Luttrell dragged him to cover. Currently, Marcus and his family live in Houston, Texas, U.S. After graduating from Willis High School, Willis, Texas, Marcus proceeded to join Sam Houston State University. "Oh yes sir," he agrees. Five continents and 31 countries this year alone, he lives his life like a rolling stone. Marcus Luttrell was the only one of four SEALs to survive the battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2005 - but the villager who saved him has called his version of "Pretty good! I crashed so hard once I got back.". The millions of ghosts of World War I remind us in unison of the cowardly actions of officers who sent men into battle miles away from their own relative comfort and safety, only to send wave after wave to their deaths, completely unfazed by the danger. They took fire from RPK machine guns, AK-47s, RPG-7s, as well You have permission to edit this article. By the end of his eight-year career in the United States Navy, Marcus became an SO1. 737K followers. Your brother will die. They are called upon to perform the toughest duties in the armed forces, and their actions directly affect the protection of America's freedom. ), Luttrell likes the film, but he won't watch it again. You could ask retired Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell what injuries he sustained during Operation Red Wings, but it might be quicker to ask which body parts were left He received a medical discharge from the Navy in 2007. Mr Luttrell extolled the virtues of Navy SEALs, the best of the best, and Marcus wanted to be one from the age of 12. He expected those around him to run fast, take chances and always look for an edge against the competition. I mean, I owe him a life debt. Until "Sir sir, wake up. In the American biographical war film titled Lone Survivor released in 2013, actor Mark Wahlberg portrayed Marcus. They medically discharged Marcus from the Navy in the same year. He's been fighting in wars since he was a kid. City officials are considering a new lake on Waco Creek as part of a park planned next to the former Floyd Casey Stadium site. ", Has the film helped him to move forward? Verified. Billy Shelton, trained them using various weight and endurance exercises. Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. But most importantly, he taught me that these beliefs were so deeply held, that he lived by them and was willing to die for them. We didn't only talk about the story, we went out, hung out, ran around town, remembers Berg. Probably more than five days. The mental stress that I was going through every second of every day out there was just imagine your adrenaline being up for five days straight. Their functions include conducting small-unit special operation missions in maritime, mountainous, arctic, urban, and jungle. January 12, 20148:00 AM ET. It would be easier to ask Marcus Luttrell which parts of his body were still left intact after Operation Red Wing. Sound Like You? I've been down here for 20 days," he says. We normally fly exclusively at night, using night vision goggles to maintain the element of surprise, and on this particular night, we'd been asked to insert a group of four U.S.Navy SEALS deep into enemy-held territory to collect valuable intelligence on a powerful militia leader in the Korangal Valley. Despite his hunger, he took a sip and nearly vomited. His trousers had been ripped clean off. He served four tours in the Iraq War. Luttrell was presumed to have been a 20th victim, but in spite of bullet wounds, a broken back and rocks and shrapnel protruding from his legs, the SEAL Marcus Luttrell: Dealing with 'Lone Survivor' wounds - USA TODAY "Good lord, that was rancid," laughs Luttrell today. Follow. Murph and the team were compromised; they need immediate support.". Fraser is on trial this week in Waco after her 2015 conviction in the same case was thrown out on appeal. One of the bullets pierced his aorta, Marcus is now a Houston, Texas, U.S resident where he lives with his wife Melanie Juneau, his son Alex, and his daughter Addie. His left leg, which was drenched in blood and full of shrapnel, seemed paralysed, his right one nearly as bad. He also suffered a severe Lone Survivor was published a mere two years after his ordeal, and he sees the film as the end of that particular mission. Also, he and his twin brother were present, at Perrys formal announcement on June 4, 2015. The decisive point requires the presence of the leader because he can see and hear with his own eyes and ears and can make appropriate decisions in real time. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. In response to Murphy's call, 16 men had whipped over in a Chinook, but as it came to land near the original drop-off point, one of Shah's men fired an RPG through the helicopter's open ramp. Night Stalkers Don't Quit." Also, he won a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a V device, another unit, and personal awards. I was prodded awake by my maintenance officer, and the look on his face told me more than his words. There's a lot of fascinating special operation history in the Netflix thriller "Lou," but going into details would reveal Jason McCarthy of goruck.com and Stew Smith discuss his journey to, through, and after Army Special Forces and being Copyright 2023 Military.com. Only Marcus Luttrell survived. In death, as in life, we stand together, always a family, always a team. He began unofficial training with a former soldier at 14 and at 25, in 2001, he became a SEAL. Shoot them, get heard, have the villagers come to search for them, and face the wrath of the media and potential murder charges/jail; tie them up and leave them to die; or let them go and risk 'military suicide' as the goatherders alerted Ahmad Shah of their presence. Luttrell named the dog DASY, an acronym he created out of the names of his four-member reconnaissance team, of which he was the sole survivor. It took a while, Berg tells Esquire Weekly in a London hotel suite. Murphy was shot in the stomach, Dietz in the hand. Leaders eat last -- meaning, if you're going to run out of food and some of your troops will go hungry, you should be among the hungry. While Gulab returned to Afghanistan, Lone Survivor became a blockbuster, earning over $200 million globally. The best part of the WashPo article is the focus on the USAF rescue operation. "Cross that line out, Brady," he would tell me. He was living in a home that was almost like a mausoleum, it had a gravestone in the middle of the living-room with the names of all the soldiers who were killed, and pictures of all of them. Marcus makes a significant cameo appearance in at least three scenes in the film although he is present in other scenes. The two trained for the U.S. Navy SEALs together with others who aspired to join the U.S Navy and other special operations forces. As the rotors were turning and I was completing last-minute coordination with SEAL Commander Kristensen onboard the helicopter, Maj. Reich stepped on the aircraft and walked over to me like a major-league coach walking to the pitcher's mound. An RPG smashed into a tree next to Luttrell, blowing him off the cliff. He'd been drafted to play for the Baltimore Orioles organization but instead elected to serve his country while his peers went on to more lucrative careers in baseball and the sports entertainment industry. Your whole family will die. Marcus started training for the U.S. Navy SEALs with U.S. Army veteran Billy Shelton at the age of 14. The fight continued as the Taliban descended on them.