Marcus Luttrell
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5. Marcus Luttrell is a former Navy SEAL who received the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his actions in June 2005 against Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wings. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 with SEAL Team Ten as part of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One (SDV-1). While in Afghanistan, he was involved in Operation Red Wings, during which the four-man Special Reconnaissance element with SDV-1 was discovered by local herdsmen, subsequently ambushed, and all killed except Luttrell. Luttrell was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the operation. The team knew the local herdsmen might reveal their whereabouts to Taliban fighters but, because they were not armed combatants, the team allowed the herdsmen to leave despite the risk to themselves and their mission. During the ambush of Operation Red Wings the four SEALs were attacked from three sides and took fire from PK machine guns, AK-47s, RPG-7s, and 82mm mortars. The attack forced the SEALs into the northeast gorge of the Shuryek Valley side of Sawtalo Sar. The SEALs made a number of attempts to contact their combat operations center with a PRC-148 MBITR and then with an Iridium satellite phone. They could not establish consistent communication, however, other than for a period long enough to indicate that they were under attack. Three of the four team members were killed, and Luttrell, the only survivor, was left unconscious with a number of fractures, a broken back, and numerous shrapnel wounds. Members of SEAL Team 10 attempted a rescue during the firefight, but their helicopter was shot down, and all aboard were killed. Luttrell regained consciousness and evaded the pursuing enemy, with the help of local Pashtun villagers, one of them being Mohammad Gulab, who eventually sent an emissary to the nearest U.S. base to secure Luttrell's safe rescue and ultimately saved his life. After recovering from his injuries, Luttrell returned to active duty and deployed to Ramadi during Operation Iraqi Freedom i
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Former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell shoots Team Never Quit training rounds. (Image: Facebook, Team Never Quit) ** FILE **
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Mohammed Gulab walks with former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell during a 2013 interview in the United States. (Image: CBS, "60 Minutes" screen shot)
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This photo released by Universal Pictures shows Taylor Kitsch, left, as Michael Murphy and Mark Wahlberg as Marcus Luttrell in a scene from the film, “Lone Survivor." (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Gregory R. Peters)
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Film director Peter Berg (from left), retired Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Luttrell and actor Mark Wahlberg arrive at the 2013 American Film Institute FEST premiere of "Lone Survivor" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
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Marcus Luttrell, author of "Lone Survivor," (third from right) was the only Navy SEAL to survive a botched 2005 mission in Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy) ** FILE **
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Marcus Luttrell wrote “Lone Survivor,” about his harrowing experience in Afghanistan, and will be portrayed by Mark Wahlberg in an upcoming film. (Facebook)
