| Category: | Book Reviews |
|---|---|
| Subcategory: | Memoirs |
| Price: | around $15 |
| Average Rating: | |
| Description: | In June of 2005, Luttrell led a four-man team of Navy SEALs into the mountains of Afghanistan on a mission to kill a Taliban leader thought to be allied with Osama bin Laden. On foot, the team encountered two adult men and a teenage boy. A debate broke out as to whether the SEALs should summarily execute the trio to keep them from alerting the Taliban. Luttrell himself was called upon to make the decision. He was torn between considerations of morality and his survival instinct, and he points out that "any government that thinks war is somehow fair and subject to rules like a baseball game probably should not get into one. Because nothing's fair in war, and occasionally the wrong people do get killed." Luttrell opted to spare the Afghanis' lives. About an hour later, the Taliban launched an attack that claimed nearly a hundred of their own men but also the lives of all the SEALs except Luttrell, who was left wounded. Not long after that, the Taliban shot down an American rescue helicopter, killing all 16 men on board. Luttrell is sure that the three Afghanis he let go turned around and betrayed the SEALs. But if nothing is fair in war, neither is anything foreordained. Luttrell was found by other Afghanis, one of whom claimed to be his village's doctor. Once again, Luttrell had to rely on his instincts. "There was something about him," Luttrell writes. "By now I'd seen a whole lot of Taliban warriors, and he looked nothing like any of them. There was no arrogance, no hatred in his eyes." Luttrell trusted the man and his colleagues, who took him back to their village, where the law of hospitality -- "strictly nonnegotiable" -- took hold. "They were committed to defend me against the Taliban," Luttrell writes, "until there was no one left alive." The law held, and Luttrell survived, returned home and received the Navy Cross for combat heroism from President Bush. Copyright 2007, The Washington Post. All Rights Reserved. |
Great about about a Navy Seal team in afghanistan and the one guy left alive
The LT of the group just, received the Medal of Honor (posthumously). One of the better books ever written.
I just finished reading this book. A tremendous story that makes me incredibly proud of the US Navy. Every one of those SEALs are true American heroes.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Probley the best book i have read in years, got all of my buddise to read it they all loved it
This account quiets the soul of those who speak loudly in the presence of true warriorship. These SEAL operators are reflective of the outstanding men from THE TEAMS.
Absolutely great book about heroism and the war on terror
By far the best book about brotherhood, survival, and determination I have ever read. Coming from a Marines standpoint, I have nothing but the utmost respect for these Seals and the job they did that day. This book has motivated me as a police officer to better prepare myself and my fellow deputies for whatever the job may throw at us. Overall, best book I have ever read!
True HEROES.......and in a time when the word is used to freely.....WARRIORS!!
I read this book in one night, while I was in the hospital. The othr person in the room complained that I kept the light on, too bad. The story of this SEAL Team Element was excellant, true American Heros.
I just finished the book and it was great, one of the best books I have ever read. Just goes to show us what can be done when the odds are against use but you keep the will to always fight back and live. I would love to hear Luttrell speak one day.
Outstanding read! For those who straddle the fence in suppporting our troops it will enlighten them in what our military warriors have to go through, and the hurdles they have to jump to not only survive the life or death encounters but to also survive the political rules of engagement.
I could not put this book down, read it in one sitting. An inside look into SEAL training and the types of missions that these guys take on. The description of combat in the Afghan hills is heartbreaking, but shows just how tough and dedicated to each other the SEALS are. I definitely recommend this book.
This book is abslutely a must read to understand the heros who go over to the war zone. Many of us have been over there and have met these types of folks but didn't know it till after the fact.
Not much I can add that other readers haven't. This is a great book and I highly encourage everyone to read this. It has also motivated me to prepare myself physically for the challenges that may lie ahead. We never know what we'll run into. Luttrell is a genuine American hero, along with his brothers who perished on that mountain.
This was an outstanding book that was very well written. It was simply OUTSTANDING!
Good Book
Excellent read.