Quite possibly, the best military book that I've ever read - that's saying something, because I devour them.
If you've seen the movie, you absolutely must read the book.
Whereas Peter Berg's excellent Lone Survivor film spends most time depicting the battle in which three Navy SEALs on a recon mission in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountains - Michael Murphy, Matthew 'Axe' Axelson and Danny Deitz - were killed in a battle with overwhelming Taliban forces and then, more SEALs on a rescue mission perished when their helicopter was shot down by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade, Luttrell’s book tells the story of what happened after the
battle, his own impressive and amazing survival in the face of what seemed like
insurmountable odds.
This is authenticity at it’s finest, a superb account of
both SEAL training in Coronado, California and the fateful Operation Red Wings
where so many men died. The target was Ahmad Shah, a local Taliban commander
who had killed a lot of US Marines, and so had earned the ire of the United
States.
What followed, became infamous as one of the most costly
United States special forces operations in the country’s long military history,
and one that gained a lot of press coverage as a result. The SEALs were
discovered by a group of goatherds, who, when they were released, informed the
local Taliban forces of their position.
Luttrell’s story of survival, of outwitting and outlasting
the Taliban enemy – more than two hundred of them, apparently – and then being
looked after by a group of Afghanis from a local village is nothing short of
incredible. The battering he took, and his ability to keep moving across, up
and down over a steep mountain, let alone actually survive in the elements,
almost defies belief.
As they try to evade, they’re still taking on a hugely
numerically-superior force of enemy, and more than holding their own in the
beginning of the battle. Inevitably, though, weight of numbers brings about the
demise of Dietz, Axelson and, particularly, Luttrell’s best friend, Murphy, who
died in an effort to make radio contact with the base and bring in support for
his team. You can just about feel his heart breaking as he writes of their
loss, and of how it haunts him to this day.
I found myself having to go back and re-read large chunks,
just to make sure I was reading everything correctly. I mean, this is the sort
of stuff you see in Hollywood movies all the time, but the one key difference
is that Arnie, Bruce and co in the movies didn’t actually put their bodies on
the line the way that Luttrell did.
Anyone who doubts that special forces soldiers are on par
with Olympic athletes in terms of physical conditioning should read Lone
Survivor. It’ll change your mind pretty quickly. In fact, I’d go so far as to
say the SEAL training makes those guys tougher. The ability to adapt and to
keep moving and fighting and evading even when shot multiple times is nothing
short of staggering.
As was the assistance given to Luttrell by the Afghani
villagers who, under their ancient code of lokhay,
by which they are bound to offer shelter and defend a person, to the last man,
if necessary. And it gets down to that, with the Taliban making threats against
the villagers and the village that shelters Luttrell. Even so, they don’t give
him up.
Quite an amazing circumstance, considering the Taliban rely
on those villagers – or at least, some of the more fanatics – for support in
their war on the Americans. It couldn’t have been a popular decision,
sheltering an American who’d quite clearly been involved in a battle that’d
inflicted grievous losses on the Taliban, but the noble village chieftain stuck
to his guns and that dedication ultimately led to Luttrell’s rescue and his
story being printed.
Luttrell spends quite a few pages criticising the liberal
media in American for the somewhat-constrictive Rules of Engagement that the
forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are bound by, and I can somewhat
understand his frustration. Those who look innocent aren’t always that way, and
could be working for the enemy, but well aware of the US rules of engagement.
That said, going around shooting unarmed locals isn’t the way to go. Still,
it’s easy for me to sit back and say that. I haven’t been on the front line.
Luttrell has.
All in all, a brilliant book about friendship, combat,
sacrifice and one man’s supreme endurance. After reading Lone Survivor, it’s impossible not to look upon the ongoing
conflict with a more personal feel. Luttrell’s book brings it all home, makes
the reader realise that the men dying out there, far from home against a
ruthless enemy, are husbands, brothers, sons, best friends.
Lone Survivor is a
fitting memorial to all those who died during Operation Red Wings, and those
who have been Killed in Action in combat since.
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