Operation red wings was intended to disrupt local anticoalition militia activity, thus contributing to regional stability and thereby facilitating. This gripping and emotional account is a musthave for anyone interested in how seals operate and how they handle it when things go wrong. The rescue helicopter carrying eight seals was shot down by a reported rocket. On the same day, a qrf of eight navy seals and 8 army night stalkers were also killed when the mh47 helicopter that they were aboard was shot down by enemy fire in the. It is the story of the largest combat rescue operation in the war up to that time, and the largest loss of life in us sof prior to the downing of extortion 17 in 2011.
Eight members of the seals and eight army special operations soldiers who came by helicopter to rescue the original four were shot down, and all. In august 2005, the marines launched operation whalers to destroy taliban remnants. Matthew axelson a brothers search for an american warrior. Luttrell has given the media enough of his soul over the past few years, promoting his book and, to some extent of late, the film, but nevertheless. The movie gave the impression that operation red wings is relatively routine and just has a lot of moving parts. This page gives an abbreviated, general overview of what is contained in the book victory point, which documents operation red wings and operation whalers in detail. With the exception of luttrell, all were killed june 28, 2005, by enemy forces while supporting operation red wings. Marcus luttrells blockbuster bestseller, lone survivorsoon to. We factcheck the film about operation red wings starring mark wahlberg. Navy seals seal delivery vehicle team 1, pearl harbor, hawaii. Michael murphy, gunners mate 2nd class danny dietz, sonar technician 2nd class matthew axelson and hospital corpsman 2nd class marcus luttrell was conducting a reconnaissance mission to scout the terrorist ahmad shah in the hindu kush of afghanistan. And this video essentially proves why lone survivor the book, is full of shit, that isnt the sound of 200 gunmen pouring. Luttrells claims are exaggerated nonsense, says patrick kinser, a former marine infantry officer who participated in operation red wings and read the former seals after action report. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read seal of honor.
You can tell by the big red patch on his arm, was a new york city firemans patch. Marcus luttrells savior, mohammad gulab, claims lone. A new book, operation red wings, provides more details of the rescue attempt, based on interviews with special operations forces, afteraction reports and military intelligence. What really happened during operation red wings lone survivor, the story of an injured navy seals escape from the taliban, is one of the most powerful action movies in years. The discussion here also addresses facts about operation red wings often omitted, exaggerated, and in some cases fabricated as is unfortunately the case with some military operations. Tnqpodcast rob oneill on luttrells rescue, taliban. Marcus luttrells book about his first hand experience is truly one of the greatest, most compelling books i have ever read. Marines and afghan who saved marcus luttrell say lone. Operation red wings and the rescue effort broke the back of the taliban in afghanistans eastern konar province. Since operation red wings started becoming public, there has been an.
I have had the distinct honor and privilege of speaking with several other service members from other elements since my book was published. A quick reaction force of army rangers sets out on a mission to rescue the lone survivor of a seal team that came under attack in the mountains of afghanistan in season 1, episode 2, red wings. An overlooked hero of navy seals operation red wings. He received the navy cross for his actions in 2005 facing taliban fighters during operation red wing. I sat down with a former ranger medic from 3rd ranger battalion for a few hours to talk about the massive rescue and recovery operation following operation red wings. Luttrell and 3 other members of seal team 10 were tasked with the mission to capture or kill notorious taliban leader ahmad shah. In the book, lone survivor, luttrell says he fired round after round until he was almost out of ammunition. The eyewitness account of operation redwing and the lost heroes of seal team 10 from the worlds largest community of read. The seals were ambushed by over one hundred taliban fighters and a horrific. Marcus luttrells blockbuster bestseller, lone survivorsoon to be a major motion picturetells the story of operation red wings, in which four u. Tony brooks author, entrepreneur, army ranger, leave. Operation red wings was just like any other mission.
Operation red wings ebook by peter nealen, author 12,012 words. Operations red wings and whalers the marine corps battle for freedom in afghanistan, military journalist ed darack cites a military intelligence report stating the strength of the taliban force to be 810, compared to the more than 200 claimed by patrick robinson in lone survivor. This quick read on operation red wings is both full of information and extremely educational. Operation red wings, informally referred to as the battle of abbas ghar, was a combined joint military operation during the war in afghanistan in the pech district of afghanistans kunar province, on the slopes of a mountain named sawtalo sar, approximately 20 miles west of kunars provincial capital of asadabad, in late june through midjuly 2005. Operation red wings by peter nealen overdrive rakuten. A former navy seal who was the only member of his team to survive a fierce fight with the taliban didnt get everything quite right when he recounted the battle and his subsequent rescue at an. Tremendous story of total effort by members of the navy, the army and the us air force. An army rangers firsthand account of the rescue and recovery of members of seal team 10 during operation red wings. After reading the book and seeing the movie i was very skeptical that the truth was being told. I searched the net and found out that operation red wings was a marine operation.
The man who shot osama bin laden, former seal team 6 operator, rob oneill discusses his role in the rescue effort during operation red wings to rescue. Marcus luttrells blockbuster bestseller, lone survivor soon to be a major motion picture tells the story of operation red wings, in which four u. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A quick reaction force of army rangers sets out on a mission to rescue the lone survivor of a seal team that came under attack in the mountains of afghanistan. Tasked with the recovery of downed chinook helicopter, turbine 33 and the lone survivor, marcus luttrell, a company minus of rangers were the primary search and rescue element. Cbs news correspondent lara logan reports that a spokesman said there is still fighting going on in the area of the crash site, which occurred as part of an ongoing operation named operation red. Operation red wings is an indepth examination of the recovery mission to rescue luttrell, filled with neverbeforetold details and shocking new revelations. Navy seals were inserted into the mountains of eastern afghanistan with the task of collecting intelligence and findingor killinga top al qaeda commander. Operation red wings, operation whalers, and the book.
Navy seals were inserted into the mountains of eastern afghanistan with the task of collecting intelligence and findingor killinga top al. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading operation red wings. Authors picture taken during the operation red wings rescue mission. Operation red wings the rescue story behind lone survivor. Operation red wings, informally referred to as the battle of abbas ghar was a combined joint. The rescue story behind lone survivor sofrep kindle edition by nealen, peter, webb, brandon. Short book, a recap of the rescue and recovery efforts, to bring home the remains of the three navy seals killed, and the one survivor, of operation red wings. The eyewitness account of operation redwing and the lost heroes of seal. But according to luttrells book, operation red wings was given the goahead and then canceled several times as their target moved among villages.
Watch red wings recovery full episode the warfighters. After the battle, according to the book, luttrell is found by a local man. Professionalismoperation red wings and the rules of. Operation red wings is an indepth examination of the recovery mission to. Lone survivor true story vs movie real marcus luttrell. Former navy seal says he misspoke on details of afghan. Marcus luttrell is a retired united states navy seal. Lone survivor is based on marcus luttrells book that recounts the failed june 28, 2005 mission operation red wings. Soaked by a cold rain, the quartet hiked for hours through the darkness as they struggled to. But according to luttrells book, operation red wings was given the goahead. New look at illfated 05 afghan mission the san diego. Marcus luttrells book about his first hand experience is truly one of the greatest, most compelling books i have ever. The 18day campaign of mountain battles drove the last of shahs men into pakistan. A marine corps view of tactics in operation red wings.
Since operation red wings started becoming public, there has been an undercurrent. In the weeks following marcus luttrells rescue, gulab and his family received threats from the taliban, and they were relocated to asadabad. I was awarded a joint service commendation medal for actions during this operation. Too many mistakes made by the team on the ground for what the movie depicted was a reconkill mission for me to accept. 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 against taliban fighters during operation red wings. L to r michael murphy taylor kitsch, marcus luttrell mark wahlberg, matt axe axelson ben foster and danny dietz emile hirsch in lone survivor. But there werent 35 enemy fighters in all of the korengal valley that day, said patrick kinser, a former marine infantry officer who participated in operation red wings. Today is the 14th anniversary of operation red wings, which claimed the life 19 u. After the army rangers rescue luttrell, the army rangers radioed into.