Lone Survivor
by Marcus Lutrell and Patrick Robinson
Author's Description:
“In June 2005 four US Navy SEALs left their base in Afghanistan for the Pakistani border. Their mission was to capture or kill a notorious al-Qaeda leader known to be ensconced in a Taliban stronghold surrounded by a small but heavily armed force. Less than twenty-four hours later, only one of those Navy SEALs was alive.
This is the story of team leader Marcus Luttrell, the sole survivor of Operation Redwing. Blasted unconscious by a rocket grenade, blown over a cliff, but still armed and still breathing, Luttrell endured four desperate days fighting the al-Qaeda assassins sent to kill him, before finding unlikely sanctuary with a Pashtun tribe who risked everything to protect him from the circling Taliban killers.”
This is the story of team leader Marcus Luttrell, the sole survivor of Operation Redwing. Blasted unconscious by a rocket grenade, blown over a cliff, but still armed and still breathing, Luttrell endured four desperate days fighting the al-Qaeda assassins sent to kill him, before finding unlikely sanctuary with a Pashtun tribe who risked everything to protect him from the circling Taliban killers.”
My Review - Rating - 8/10
I found this book interesting, though it’s not something I’d normally read. It’s a fascinating tale of sacrifice, heroism, and generosity in the face of incredible danger. I was deeply disturbed by parts of this book and deeply uplifted by others. I think the contrast between the Afghans at the beginning of the book (who were shown mercy but betrayed the SEALs) and the Pashtuns who saved Lutrell despite it endangering their lives and home is pretty incredible. Overall, I thought this book was an excellent read. My only warnings to the reader are that there is some controversy surrounding the accuracy of the figures Lutrell uses and his accounts of the firefight, and also that there are some views expressed that will probably make those who are pro-war dislike the book. Despite that, I thought that this was a gripping account of one of the best-known actions from the War On Terror.
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