 "Roger that, Sir! Thank you"
Marcus Lutrell is the epitome of the best of America, right out of Texas. He is the warrior, the hero every little male kid would like to grow to be, full of valor, honor, selflessness, and above all, love for America and freedom. God made Marcus big and strong for a reason. His time came during the Afghani mission he talks about here. The last man standing in a battle against all odds that tested his physical as well as mental endurance. But his loyalty to his God and his nation never felt shaken; on the contrary, Afghanistan was the soil that proved to him that our Christian God is much worthier than the god of hate-mongers and nihilist westerners, and more powerful than all the propaganda of the liberal media and its partners in the Islamic media.
This is no professor talking politics, no anti-militarist journalist preaching peace, this is a navy Seal, a man out of Texas who believes in the values his country stands for, and accordingly offers his life and all his strength to defend it, wherever he is needed. No self-pitying, no bashing, no complaints. He tells his story and that of his few Seal buddies on a mission to infiltrate Taliban territory and kill an enemy leader. The story starts with biographical sketches of Marcus and his family, combined with his early passion for the outdoors. City youths, like modern cave dwellers, really are missing the meaning of America while living in those beehive buildings. Long live the the American spirit though, with Texans like the Lutrell family it certainly will.
The story is fast paced and very visual, told in colloquial style, but poetic, even epic in the matter that is conveyed, the heart and soul of this man comes out as he tells it. And he minces no words. He speaks boldly and beautifully, as any American who is not yet a slave of government, or indebted to welfare, can do. He has no constituency as politicians have. He speaks his mind. If with respect and love, because he is a respectful and lovable man. If with some profanity and impetuousness, because he is no fake, no cynic, no hypocrite, and no pharisee. Marcus Lutrell is a Christian and a patriot, he does not claim to be a saint or philanthropist, but I wouldn't dare to say a bad word of a man who did what he did. I envy Lutrell, and other soldiers like him, whose heroic selfless acts go unnoticed against the foreground of the anti-American media. It's a marvelous opportunity that we have to read -and listen- to a man who lives like a true American should: free, victorious, hate-free, proud to be American and Texan.
I had a wonderful time with this audio book. Truly worthy to be compared with Thermopylae's 300.
Looking forward to reading it
Read the review in American Rifleman magazine. If it's even half as good as the reviewer says, it will be a great read.
 Bush worshipping one dimensional racist
I also purchased the book based on the Black Hawk down comparison. Its as if a campaign aide to Sarah Palin wrote it, complete with a folksy spelled out Texas drawl. I had to force myself to finish it inspite of the authors constant lauding of G.W.Bush as a hero, the high pitched railing against liberals, the media, the geneva convention, "hook nosed bastards" (arabs), "guys with colored towels wrapped around their heads" and people not from Texas. I admire his service to our country, but despair of his lack of knowledge about why its all happening. The author is nothing more than a one-dimensional killing machine, dense as a bag of hammers.
 Sorry, but I call BS!
Ok, I'll probably get flamed for this but let me play the devil's advocate here. Many call this story unbelievable and I really think it is. Remember...he is the LONE survivor...that means he can write anything he wants and nobody would know any better. Here's what makes me question his version of events.
The compromise of the mission. Ok, I've heard this story a few too many times before. Did he read "Bravo Two Zero" or see the movie by any chance? Well, it's about a SAS team that gets compromised behind enemy lines by, guess what, a goat shepherd. Well, they decide not to kill him and end up in a world of hurt. Sounds familiar? There is also a very similar story about a Special Forces "Scud Hunter" team being compromised by playing children with the same result. Not saying this can't happen again but it just sounds sooo familiar. Anyway...why does he insist that the only two options were to kill them or let them go and be screwed? How about binding them, stuffing their mouths to buy a little time and getting the hell out of dodge? The mission has been compromised regardless, only thing left to do is to exfiltrate in a hurry. Instead, they let them go and wait...for 30 minutes or more if I recall correctly...doing nothing. Didn't they have a Sat Phone that miraculously worked later? Ok, lets say all this happened, do you really think they sat around and took votes? Do you really think they sat around and discussed what the "liberal" media would think? Come on! Does nobody else think something doesn't sound right? I am by no means a liberal but I got tired really quickly of him blaming everything on the ROE and the liberals. Of course, this is a wonderful story for all the neocons that are just eating it up.
He is the only one that really knows what happened and I don't believe the story as it is written. Whatever happened, he'll have to live with it for the rest of his life. I have the utmost respect for the military, especially the Special Operations community and I think he is doing them a disservice but profiting from this tragedy and using the story to tell us about his political views. To all the brave men that died in this failed operation...R.I.P. Whatever exactly went wrong that day we'll likely never know but I agree that all involved are/were true heroes. Even the Lone Survivor.
Read it and live
It is a time when being patriotic is a dirty word. Fewer and fewer people are nationalistic like the previous generation was. Today the word in vogue is global. The new economy is forming rapidly with a new world goverment in the wings. With men like Marcus Latrell in our service, it gives the patriotic remnant a reason to still be proud of our country.
This book effected every area of my life and motivated me to live a life worthy of God and my country. And yes I do believe in miracles Marcus, You needed to tell your story. God bless you.
John Casey
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