Marcus Luttrell (Lone Survivor)

Marcus spoke at a company function today and all 450 of us in the room were completely blown away. The guy's story is incredible (many of us have read the book) but in person... Words just can't describe his presence. He had his new pup with him the entire time who was walking around the auditorium and eventually settled at my feet for a nap. There was no a single blackberry, iPhone, or iPad in use through the entire talk. You could hear a mouse piss on cotton when he paused. Great speaker and great story.

I introduced myself to him as he was leaving and he didn't say a word, just offered a handshake and nodded. Has anyone ever encountered the guy?

Damn. Would have loved to heard him speak. Very cool.

I don't know that name. What was he the only survivor of?

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Originally Posted by vossman

I don't know that name. What was he the only survivor of?

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Apparently, he survived a book -

http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Survivor-.../dp/0316044695


Good book, well worth reading.

Dang, just reading the summary from the Amazon site it sounds like it would be a heck of a book.

Can't wait to read this. Chris Kyle recommended ML's book in his.

That was an awesome book he wrote. It is definately worth reading again.

I've read this book a couple of times. Really good. One of the SEALs lost in the story is Danny Dietz of Littleton, Colorado.

Read his book Service too. Not a bad read as well

He actually has two books.

Really enjoyed Lone Survivor. Would love to see him speak.

Another "quiet" professional SEAL. [ROFL2]

Thats awesome. I would love to meet him. There is a documentary being released about one of the guys from Operation Redwing tomorrow. A little late but im going to the showing at colorado mills sometime tomorrow night if anyone else wants to go. It would be cool to get a group of people together and show support. I think all the money is going to some foundation.

Lone Survivor is a fantastic book.
One of the SEALs that was killed was from the Denver area. I think his name was Danny Dietz.

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Originally Posted by tmleadr03

Another "quiet" professional SEAL. [ROFL2]

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Thank you. I have my opinion of Marcus and his book, I,ll keep them to myself.

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Originally Posted by Cylinder Head

Marcus spoke at a company function today and all 450 of us in the room were completely blown away.

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Where do you work and how is his story relevant to that line of work? Just curious.

I am envious. I would really like to hear him speak. Ton of respect for that warrior.

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Originally Posted by Hitman 6

Where do you work and how is his story relevant to that line of work? Just curious.

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I work for a major asset manager, the largest in the world, and we had a gathering of my entire group in Miami. Management thought it would motivate us to hear his story, and it did, on top of making most of us feel like little nancy bitches who complain about shit like the temperature in our hotel rooms.

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Originally Posted by Squeeze

I am envious. I would really like to hear him speak. Ton of respect for that warrior.

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It was an overwhelming experience to say the least. Most of us were left speechless for a while. I ate lunch with my partner in silence.

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Originally Posted by drift_g35

Thats awesome. I would love to meet him. There is a documentary being released about one of the guys from Operation Redwing tomorrow. A little late but im going to the showing at colorado mills sometime tomorrow night if anyone else wants to go. It would be cool to get a group of people together and show support. I think all the money is going to some foundation.

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http://www.murphmovie.com/show-times/

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Originally Posted by kraven251

http://www.murphmovie.com/show-times/

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I liked both books but these are better reads imho:

Seal of Honor
By Gary Williams
The book about Lt Michael Murphy and Operation Red Wings (often called Red Wing incorrectly)

Fearless
By Eric Blehm
The book about Seal Team 6 member Adam Brown.

Regardless of my opinion on the books, I still think it would be great to hear Marcus speak...and have a shot at the two punks who killed his 1st dog.

I don't want to get into a big discussion on PTSD, but I see many of the books, most of them great reads as a way for them to remember the friends they have lost and a constructive way of dealing with the baggage of the job.

Case in point right now I am reading a book called "The Outpost" it is more of an analysis of events in and around Kamdesh Village. It doesn't read the same because it is not a personal perspective so much as it is an accounting of the men who fought and died there from a different view. Essentially, the book makes you sincerely understand why so many people come back with demons. I've never been in war or held a friend as they bled out. This book puts you there, and gives you perspective.

All of that said, because I think these guys are vocal not because they are hounding for a spotlight, but because they miss their buddies, and they have an opportunity to immortalize them in the minds of the masses instead of having their only memorial be a name on a map of some shitty outpost that very few people have ever heard of.

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Originally Posted by kraven251

I don't want to get into a big discussion on PTSD, but I see many of the books, most of them great reads as a way for them to remember the friends they have lost and a constructive way of dealing with the baggage of the job.

Case in point right now I am reading a book called "The Outpost" it is more of an analysis of events in and around Kamdesh Village. It doesn't read the same because it is not a personal perspective so much as it is an accounting of the men who fought and died there from a different view. Essentially, the book makes you sincerely understand why so many people come back with demons. I've never been in war or held a friend as they bled out. This book puts you there, and gives you perspective.

All of that said, because I think these guys are vocal not because they are hounding for a spotlight, but because they miss their buddies, and they have an opportunity to immortalize them in the minds of the masses instead of having their only memorial be a name on a map of some shitty outpost that very few people have ever heard of.

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Not a fast read, but well worth it. I set that book down pissed off.

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Originally Posted by kraven251

All of that said, because I think these guys are vocal not because they are hounding for a spotlight, but because they miss their buddies, and they have an opportunity to immortalize them in the minds of the masses instead of having their only memorial be a name on a map of some shitty outpost that very few people have ever heard of.

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We've had a lot of people come and speak at company events, and I can tell you that Marcus is the farthest thing from a famewhore. We have had many famewhores on that stage. He wants to tell the story of how the greatest men he had ever known died, and died horribly. That is it. No message.

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Originally Posted by tmleadr03

Another "quiet" professional SEAL. [ROFL2]

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Lone Survivor is a superb book. My impression was Luttrell was trying to honor his lost comrades and let people know WHY they lost their lives, not be a gloryhound. I suspect just writing it was cathartic for him as his team very probably could have gotten out to extraction without harm if they had done something many people would have regarded as a "war crime". IIRC, a very very large part of the book is spent talking about his team members. Luttrell doesn't seem to me to have been a Jesse Ventura; he gets pulled into the spotlight and speaking engagements because he has a compelling story.

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Originally Posted by Aloha_Shooter

Lone Survivor is a superb book. My impression was Luttrell was trying to honor his lost comrades and let people know WHY they lost their lives, not be a gloryhound. I suspect just writing it was cathartic for him as his team very probably could have gotten out to extraction without harm if they had done something many people would have regarded as a "war crime". IIRC, a very very large part of the book is spent talking about his team members. Luttrell doesn't seem to me to have been a Jesse Ventura; he gets pulled into the spotlight and speaking engagements because he has a compelling story.

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That's what I got out of his book.

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Originally Posted by Aloha_Shooter

Lone Survivor is a superb book. My impression was Luttrell was trying to honor his lost comrades and let people know WHY they lost their lives, not be a gloryhound. I suspect just writing it was cathartic for him as his team very probably could have gotten out to extraction without harm if they had done something many people would have regarded as a "war crime". IIRC, a very very large part of the book is spent talking about his team members. Luttrell doesn't seem to me to have been a Jesse Ventura; he gets pulled into the spotlight and speaking engagements because he has a compelling story.

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Agreed. I just decided to start listening to the audiobook again.

How about that Lone Survivor?

This isn't gonna end good, either.

Soooooo, what revives this thread?

I guess I better read this book, as the opinions are like the US congress...

Maybe I can get in on this before it "locks".... Finally in on one.... YES!

I think it's sad that people are quick to trash on any special operations group, regardless of what branch they are affiliated with. Sure, some of those guys are cocky, arrogant, meat-heads...but as far as I'm concerned, they've earned that right. They've gone through the hell of SF selection and made it through some of the most rigorous training the military has to offer. Like the SEAL teams, many of them operate deep into occupied territory with just a handful of guys. Support is not readily available and they may not have an ETA on their EVAC depending on the needs of the mission. Anyone, whether you've served or not should atleast have respect for what those guys in the special operations community has done and is currently doing. Hell, if you are standing on U.S. soil you should have enough respect to support our fighting men & women who have served and are serving now. One thing that lights my fire is people who have never served trying to Monday morning QB those of us that have. If you haven't walked the walk, don't talk the talk.

Sure, not everyone in the armed forces are stellar people, but show me one large group of collective people who are 100% perfect. There's always a few jack-holes in every bunch. Nonetheless, God bless our warriors and I'll stand beside them until the Lord takes my last breath from my body.

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Originally Posted by Squeeze

I think it's sad that people are quick to trash on any special operations group, regardless of what branch they are affiliated with. Sure, some of those guys are cocky, arrogant, meat-heads...but as far as I'm concerned, they've earned that right. They've gone through the hell of SF selection and made it through some of the most rigorous training the military has to offer. Like the SEAL teams, many of them operate deep into occupied territory with just a handful of guys. Support is not readily available and they may not have an ETA on their EVAC depending on the needs of the mission. Anyone, whether you've served or not should atleast have respect for what those guys in the special operations community has done and is currently doing. Hell, if you are standing on U.S. soil you should have enough respect to support our fighting men & women who have served and are serving now. One thing that lights my fire is people who have never served trying to Monday morning QB those of us that have. If you haven't walked the walk, don't talk the talk.

Sure, not everyone in the armed forces are stellar people, but show me one large group of collective people who are 100% perfect. There's always a few jack-holes in every bunch. Nonetheless, God bless our warriors and I'll stand beside them until the Lord takes my last breath from my body.

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A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, criticizing the actions of another man was left to the females of our species... Those that weren't empowered enough to make their own decisions. Instead, they criticized the actions of their men... Often in closed circles consisting of other un-empowered women-folk.

'Shit talking', 'trash talking', etc was left to the less-empowered women folk.

Somewhere along the line, enough boys heard it going on while they were being raised and they came to the conclusion that it was a method of improving themselves - IE: If I can pass judgement on another man's actions, I can convince others that I would have done different had I had the nuts to have put myself in the same position in the first place.

Fortunately, there is a constant in all of our lives called REALITY, and males of our species that are great enough to call themselves 'men' know what REALITY is. They know that it is something that is constant and occurs all around us as we go through life. They know that they can't hide from it. They know that they can't bend it to their will... They know that GREATNESS isn't something that they can lay claim to when they were in a warm home several thousand miles from the reality that they are passing judgement on.

It use to be that men cast doubt on another's actions when they were there sharing the same reality, and only then did they do it with great caution when the person who's actions they were questioning crossed a consistent and well established line of morality.

Now we're knee deep in bitches.

Don't like what another man did? Change your life, follow that same man's path, embrace all of his hardships, and then put your nuts on the line and try to do it differently... bitches.

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Originally Posted by Kraven251

I don't want to get into a big discussion on PTSD, but I see many of the books, most of them great reads as a way for them to remember the friends they have lost and a constructive way of dealing with the baggage of the job.

Case in point right now I am reading a book called "The Outpost" it is more of an analysis of events in and around Kamdesh Village. ..... This book puts you there, and gives you perspective.

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ive walked those grounds.... Got into a tussle near there, also. 'Not Fun' is the easiest way to describe it.

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Originally Posted by jhood001

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, criticizing the actions of another man was left to the females of our species... Those that weren't empowered enough to make their own decisions. Instead, they criticized the actions of their men... Often in closed circles consisting of other un-empowered women-folk.

'Shit talking', 'trash talking', etc was left to the less-empowered women folk.

Somewhere along the line, enough boys heard it going on while they were being raised and they came to the conclusion that it was a method of improving themselves - IE: If I can pass judgement on another man's actions, I can convince others that I would have done different had I had the nuts to have put myself in the same position in the first place.

Fortunately, there is a constant in all of our lives called REALITY, and males of our species that are great enough to call themselves 'men' know what REALITY is. They know that it is something that is constant and occurs all around us as we go through life. They know that they can't hide from it. They know that they can't bend it to their will... They know that GREATNESS isn't something that they can lay claim to when they were in a warm home several thousand miles from the reality that they are passing judgement on.

It use to be that men cast doubt on another's actions when they were there sharing the same reality, and only then did they do it with great caution when the person who's actions they were questioning crossed a consistent and well established line of morality.

Now we're knee deep in bitches.

Don't like what another man did? Change your life, follow that same man's path, embrace all of his hardships, and then put your nuts on the line and try to do it differently... bitches.

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Well said and I agree wholeheartedly. There used to also be a time when we treated each other a whole heck of a lot better. We were understanding of the mistakes our fellow man made and offered a helping hand. We knew who our neighbors were and conversed with them regularly. We weren't afraid to say "hello" to strangers as we passed them by on the sidewalk. We weren't terribly concerned about danger if we pulled over to help someone on the side of a road changing a tire. Our society has decayed to a point where it truly scares me to know I'm trying my hardest to raise 2 wonderful boys in this mess. My 4 year-old opens & holds doors for people. He uses manners. I see teenage punks who don't do any of that. Damn sad times we live in brother.

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Originally Posted by Squeeze

Well said and I agree wholeheartedly. There used to also be a time when we treated each other a whole heck of a lot better. We were understanding of the mistakes our fellow man made and offered a helping hand. We knew who our neighbors were and conversed with them regularly. We weren't afraid to say "hello" to strangers as we passed them by on the sidewalk. We weren't terribly concerned about danger if we pulled over to help someone on the side of a road changing a tire. Our society has decayed to a point where it truly scares me to know I'm trying my hardest to raise 2 wonderful boys in this mess. My 4 year-old opens & holds doors for people. He uses manners. I see teenage punks who don't do any of that. Damn sad times we live in brother.

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Damn that's well said. Im glad to see that someone seriously put some thought into soemething they posted. It's too bad that even on a website were we all are suppose to have some common ground most threads end in name calling, insults, racist BS, and just plain disrespect of one another. I honestly think that social media, text messages, smart phones, etc are eroding the social bond between us. Neighborhoods have turned into lots with 5000 sq ft buildings and no yards where no real community exists. Sad.

BTW. My cousin has served in Special Opertions for 14 years and you probably couldn't pick him out of a room. Not sure how he does what he does for how long he's done it, but one of the nicest people you'd ever meet. Highly decorated and extremely motivated to serve his country. I'd say he's "least likely to start a bar fight" and the first to lend a hand. We laugh with him because he's not very "Hollywood" and just a regular guy (well....not really).

does anyone have a copy of this on kindle they could lend me?

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Originally Posted by cofi

does anyone have a copy of this on kindle they could lend me?

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Looks like your local COS library has a digital copy available:


Edition:
1st ed.



Publisher:
New York : Little, Brown and Co., c2007.



Description:
1 online resource (390 p.) : map



Contents:
To Afghanistan ... in a flying warehouse -- Baby seals ... and big ole gators -- A school for warriors -- Welcome to hell, gentlemen -- Like the remnants of a ravaged army -- 'Bye dudes, give 'em hell -- An avalanche of gunfire -- The final battle for Murphy's Ridge -- Blown-up, shot, and presumed dead -- An American fugitive cornered by the Taliban -- Reports of my death greatly exaggerated -- "Two-two-eight! It's two-two-eight!" -- Epilogue : lone star.



Personal Subject:
Luttrell, Marcus.



Corporate Subject:
United States. Navy. SEALs -- Officers.
USA -- Marine -- Sea, Air, Land Teams.



Subject(s):
Afghan War, 2001- -- Campaigns.
Afghan War, 2001- -- Personal narratives, American.
Afghanistankrieg (2001)
Überlebender.



Electronic Access:
Click here to access this eTitle

i dont have a library card :(

I have a nook copy

You guys know he wrote a follow up about his continued service in Iraq after he got better.


Sent by a free-range electronic weasel, with no sense of personal space.

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Originally Posted by RMAC757

Damn that's well said. Im glad to see that someone seriously put some thought into soemething they posted. It's too bad that even on a website were we all are suppose to have some common ground most threads end in name calling, insults, racist BS, and just plain disrespect of one another. I honestly think that social media, text messages, smart phones, etc are eroding the social bond between us. Neighborhoods have turned into lots with 5000 sq ft buildings and no yards where no real community exists. Sad.

BTW. My cousin has served in Special Opertions for 14 years and you probably couldn't pick him out of a room. Not sure how he does what he does for how long he's done it, but one of the nicest people you'd ever meet. Highly decorated and extremely motivated to serve his country. I'd say he's "least likely to start a bar fight" and the first to lend a hand. We laugh with him because he's not very "Hollywood" and just a regular guy (well....not really).

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Be sure to let your cousin know I am forever grateful for his sacrifice and dedication to serving our country. Majority of special operations personnel I've come into contact with were good guys and humble. I've had the luxury of meeting a former Navy SEAL who shoots out at Mr. Swainson's "farm". He's a great guy and a lot of fun to be around. A lot of people have a misconception of how special operators are. Case in point; a while back before Blue Core Shooting Center opened, I was in Green Mountain Guns picking up some reloading supplies. A young couple was talking about wanting to know where to go to shoot a rifle. The guy behind the counter offered up Cherry Creek. The couple said they went by a place that looked to be a new range opening up in the Lakewood area. The guy from GMG said, "Well, it isn't open yet." He then immediately made reference that the range is going to be run by some former Navy SEALS and he didn't have any room in his life for people like that. When I asked him what he meant by that, his reply was along the lines of, "Well, those tactical special operations kind of guys. I just don't have room to tolerate people like that." I laughed and replied, "Well, guess that includes me then." and walked out. I don't have a problem with GMG, I generally deal with Steve when he's in there. He's one of the most well-rounded, knowledgeable guys that works there. Who knows, maybe this guy had a bad run in with some SF guys a long time ago and now his image of them is tainted. Regardless, I don't think it was fair to judge the owners of Blue Core before giving them a chance. Just my .02.