Dehydrated, with a bullet wound to one leg, shrapnel embedded in both legs, three vertebrae cracked; the situation for Luttrell was grim. They determined that Shah and his men would be occupying the area of Chichal in late June, a time of low lunar illumination. Determining that they were civilians, not combatants, Lieutenant Murphy released them, according to rules of engagement. Many of the details regarding the Afghans who aided Luttrell were reported incorrectly in the American press during the days after the events occurred. Trying to reach safety, the four men, now each wounded, began bounding down the mountains steep sides, making leaps of 20 to 30 feet. His brothers were dead, hed been repeatedly shot, his back was shattered, and hed racked up countless contusions and lacerations diving down the mountain. If you want to hear more in his own words, Luttrell has a podcast through his foundation Team Never Quit. Who are way more effective fighters than Taliban but the media and books and stuff say taliban because its easier for peoples heads back home. Operation Red Wings - Wikipedia Like any competent officer would pick a layup spot 10 feet off a goat trail so they get compromised by shepherds like a bunch of muppets. You can learn more about the foundation here and, if you are a veteran suffering from combat trauma, you can apply to attend here. That's some serious badassery; that's a level of practically inhuman strength. On June 28, 2005, three of four SEALS on the ground (Murphy, Dietz, Axelson) were killed during combat operations to support Operation Red Wings. [41] The SEALs made a number of attempts to contact their combat operations center with an AN/PRC-148 multi-band radio and then with a satellite phone. [2][7], Late in the night of June 27, 2005, two MH-47 helicopters approached Sawtalo Sar. Hey you got any additional tin foil hats you could share? Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y. Based on Luttrell's descriptions of the area, Appel and Piercecchi returned to the site of the battle two days later and retrieved the remains of Dietz, Murphy, and Axelson. Subscribe to Pew Pew Tactical's sales and deals email. If it pew-pews, its on. He was a major HVT for Operation Red Wings. It is what we do, when we must fight only when we must! In actuality, LT Murphy successfully made the call while taking gunfire. [15] The operation was intended to disrupt the activities of local Taliban-aligned anti-coalition militias (ACM), thus contributing to regional stability and thereby facilitating the September 2005 parliamentary election for the National Assembly of Afghanistan. Operation Red Wings (often incorrectly referred to as Operation Redwing or Operation Red Wing),[13] informally referred to as the Battle of Abbas Ghar, was a joint military operation conducted by the United States in the Pech District of Kunar Province, Afghanistan. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Ind. Throughout my career Ive been fortunate to have the opportunity to get to know quite a few American heroes and Luttrell is one of them. By the time of the book, that number had inflated to 200, and their target, who they never even laid eyes on, Ahmed Shah, was hardcore AQ and promoted to an OBL top lieutenant, lies no one but Luttrell has ever even tried to defend. Get proficient on YOUR time. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. [3] Official media reports from the military estimated the size of the Taliban force to be around 20 as well, while in the Medal of Honor citation for Murphy, the Navy cited 3040 enemies. Luttrell was inserted onto that mountain in the Hindu Kush at night on June 27, 2005 and on June 28, 2005 he found himself grievously injured and alone. Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS, and Exclusive Coupons Codes >>>. I have researched this well. Murphy, intent on making contact with headquarters but realizing this would be impossible in the extreme terrain where they were fighting, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own life, moved into the open, where he could gain a better position to transmit a call to get help for his men. All the obvious bs in his book, makes me wonder just how Luttrell managed to be the only one to make it off that mountain. [3] Three of the four team members were killed and the only survivor, Marcus Luttrell, was left unconscious with a number of fractures and other serious wounds. [70], There has been some conflict over the number of Taliban forces involved in the engagement. Entering a hot combat zone, attack helicopters are used initially to neutralize the enemy and make it safer for the lightly-armored, personnel-transport helicopter to insert. He was shot in the back at one point, causing him to drop the transmitter. It's a journey of innocence lost and the scars of war etched into the minds of service members. [2] Similar operations that followed included Operation Mavericks (named after the Dallas Mavericks basketball team) in April 2005,[29] and Operation Celtics (named after the Boston Celtics basketball team) in May 2005. This would pose a threat to their activities, some of which included attempting to aid a resurgent neo-Taliban and lumber smuggling. Extortion 17, Seal Team Six and What Really Happened on the - Newsweek gear. [28] Spurs utilized Navy SEALs for the opening two phases of the five-phase operation. He calmly provided his units location and the enemy forces size while requesting immediate support for his team. [2] The team could not establish consistent communication other than for a period long enough to indicate that they were under attack. [34], 2/3's battalion staff began planning Operation Red Wings when they arrived in Afghanistan. What injuries did Matt Axelson receive while in Operation Red Wing I feel he also was responsible for 20 additional deaths of the men that attempted to rescue him and what was left of his team. [2], As with 3/3 before them, 2/3 sought to use Special Operations Forces assets for Red Wings but, unlike 3/3, they sought only the use of Special Operations Aviation assets, specifically, MH-47 Special Operations Aircraft of the 160th SOAR, not any ground forces. All eight 160th SOAR aviators and crew and all eight Navy SEALs onboard were killed, including commander of the 160th, Major Stephen C. Reich, and ground commander LCDR Erik S. Kristensen, of SEAL Team 10. "[44], In the June 12, 2007 article "Survivor's book dishonors son's memory" by Michael Rothfeld in Newsday, Michael P. Murphy's father Dan claims that Lieutenant Murphy would never have considered executing unarmed civilians, let alone putting such a grave decision up for a vote (in reference to the purported vote of execution of unarmed locals). And of course hero Marcus makes the tough call. Extortion 17: The deadliest day in the DEVGRU history - Spec Ops Magazine During an attempt to insert SEALs riding in one of the MH-47 helicopters, one of Ahmad Shah's men fired an RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade which struck the transmission below the rear rotor assembly, causing the aircraft to immediately plummet to the ground. On June 28, 2005, the 4-man SEAL team was sent on a reconnaissance mission to locate an HVT (high-valuable target) at the unforgiving altitude of approximately 10,000 feet. Forces death toll since Operation Enduring Freedom began. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and accomplish our mission. The forces were participating in Operation Red Wing, an effort to defeat terrorists operating in Kunar province," a military press release stated. Finding blood pools and body parts are usually what post battle assessment comes up with unless you are the ones conducting the raid. That is the literal definition of a liar. Lone Survivor accuracy: Fact vs. fiction in the Mark Wahlberg and Peter I have read Lutrells book. They were ambushed by a dozen Talis with bigger guns, better positions, and knowledge of the terrain, and got schwacked. The Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community will forever remember June 28, 2005, and our special operators heroic efforts and sacrifices. That was one of the greatest losses in the SOF community and the highest single loss in Operation Red Wings. Every single soldier of those 20 who lost their life would still step onboard of that MH-47, even when they knew it upfront or thought for split seccond that he made a mistake! [61] In addition, the United States Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, brought in the American flag, the POW/MIA flag and the San Diego Padres flag. On the ground and nearly out of ammunition, the four SEALs, Murphy, Luttrell, Dietz, and Axelson, continued the fight. Even if the whole world would have thought that LT. Murphy made a mistake letting the boys go! I, like many other people who saw the movie and heard the story, had a LOT more support for not just the SEALs but the military in general. And stay in touch with newsletters of our best articles on techniques, guns, & gear. [31] 3/3 planned and executed approximately one of these operations per month, maintaining a consistent operational tempo. Due to his helping an American, Gulab was marked for death by the Taliban. In the week before Operation Red Wings, only 2 soldiers died in the entire country. Weve got a dedicated section for the AR-15 here. Do not think they arent well trained. While I understand SEALs tend to exaggerate things and are confident to a fault. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. Read it, and then see if you want to make intelligent statements about our Spec Ops guys. Following the call, Murphy managed to drag himself to a semi-covered position, where he began to cry out to Luttrell for help. But he only hesitated one horrifically painful moment before he picked them back up, finished the call, and resumed fighting. On the side of that mountain, with his teammates under fire, he refused to falter. So what exactly happened? [59], The "sequel" to the original mission, Operation Red Wings, was Operation Whalers, which 2/3 planned and executed in August 2005. Bin laden would've probably afforded a civilian death or two and been wrapped up, but a . 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Va. Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Fla. HQ Company, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky. Master Sgt. He was out in the open on an exposed rock formation. Then theres the fact that the pain of survivors guilt cannot be understood unless it has been lived. And we're supposed to believe they stood around discussing what to do with the herders after the soft compromise, like no one ever considered the possibility? He was in mental and physical agony but he refused to give up. Gulab would spend the next 10 years fighting for his life and the lives of his family. [69] Because of his scrupulous devotion to realistic depictions of humans, Proctor was the personal choice of Axelson's family for the project, and they made that recommendation to the committee. [46] It was partly because of this goodwill that Gulab gave Luttrell sanctuary. Up to. 'Lone Survivor' uncovered: The ambush at Sawtalo Sar | SOFREP The 2013 film is an adaptation of the title characters autobiography, Marcus Luttrell, titled Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Red wings and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 (2007). They knew the tremendous risk of going into an active enemy area in daylight without their attack support and the cover of night. Writer Ed Darack on the truth behind Extortion 17 & Operation Red Wings They had connections with the Taliban and other militant groups close to the Pakistani border. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. The objective of the operation was to kill or capture Ahmad Shah (code name Ben Sharmak), a known terrorist and head of the "Mountain Tigers" militia group. Gulab claims when they found Marcus he still had his full load out. No way. This is the story of Operation Red Wings and why it is not only historically valuable but relevant to our lives in general. Operation Red Wings was conceived by the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines (2/3) of the U.S. Marine Corps based on an operational model developed by 2/3's sister battalion, the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines (3/3), which had preceded the 2/3 in their combat deployment. [2] These barriers included non-sharing of intelligence with the battalion and non-disclosure of impending raids by special operations units in the area. A massive search began, at first from the ground, and then with aviation assets which was able to retrieve the bodies of the 16 killed in the MH-47 shootdown. This was the worst single-day U.S. Operation Red Wings Autopsy Report But when a team was finally able to locate and take the bodies of the fallen men home they found Axelson not in that spot but a short distance from where hed been last seenand down to one mag. Najmudeen's surrender, however, left a power vacuum in the region. I dont think any seal post 911 has ever been mistaken as a quiet profesional! Just another Texas blowhard like Chris "I shot looters from the roof of the Superdome and knocked out Jesse Ventura" Kyle, who's made a post service career getting paid to tell anyone who will listen, books films, interviews, podcasts, you name it, about his time as a "silent" professional. Luttrell was also awarded the Navy Cross, in a ceremony at the White House. To claim that they didnt face 100 enemies because of the remote area is spoken like someone whos never been there. LT. Murphy stood up in plain sight of the enemy to attempt to call in support for his team. Phase 1 - Shaping: A U.S. Navy SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team is tasked to insert in the region of the suspected safe buildings of Ahmad Shah, observe and identify Shah and his men and specific locations, and guide a direct action team of phase two to structures in which Shah and his men are observed to be staying. Lone Survivor True Story vs Movie - Real Marcus Luttrell, Mike Murphy [citation needed], Command and control was lost and neither visual nor radio contact could be established with the SEAL team. Matt Axelson invented chill. It stands as a cautionary tale of how extreme arrogance and ineptitude can lead to disaster. [2] Three of the four SEALs were killed during the ensuing battle, and one of the two quick reaction force (QRF) helicopters sent in for their aid was shot down by an RPG-7 fired by Shah's insurgents, killing all eight U.S. Navy SEALs and all eight U.S. Army Special Operations aviators on board. More like 8-12 fighters according to multiple sources, including video shot by those Talis during the fight, Gulab and the other villagers who rescued Luttrell, and the Marine rescue team who were there a day later. The risk would, of course, be minimized if they put the helicopter down in a safe zone. During the opening phases, the Marines of 2/3 would act in a supporting role. On a hunt a few years ago on his familys property out here in Texas we did a spot-and-stalk on Blackbuck and let me tell you, the man may have been injured and is most certainly still in pain, but he can move. His nephew would be murdered and the Taliban would attempt to murder Gulab in a number of ways. Personalize your experience. You cannot discuss Operation Red Wings without talking about the men of Turbine 33. The enemy had the SEALs outnumbered. And when it became clear all of the men would die unless Murph used the SAT phone meant for only the direst of emergencies, he knew he had to make it work. I have also watched the movie. Shah had two videographers with him during the ambush and As-Sahab Media released their video of the ambush and images of the items recovered from the SEALs. The above article is sadly lacking to say the least. [46] Known simply as Gulab, he took Luttrell into his home that first day in accordance with the Pashtunwali custom of Nanawatai, whereby asylum is given to a person to protect them from their enemies. Phase 5 - Exfiltration: Depending on enemy activity, the Marines will remain in the area for up to one month, then depart the area. Same with the villagers who rescued Luttrell and all the videos those insurgents made themselves. Despite the intensity of the firefight and suffering grave gunshot wounds himself, Team Leader Michael Murphy is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates. Shah was from a remote region in Nangarhar Province, which borders the south side of Kunar Province. What a shame. Luttrell is a national treasure. [2] A team of four Navy SEALs, tasked with surveillance and reconnaissance of a group of structures known to be used by Shah and his men, were ambushed by Shah and his group just hours after inserting into the area by fast-roping from an MH-47 Chinook helicopter. Phase 2 - Action on the Objective: A SEAL, Phase 3 - Outer Cordon: Marines, along with, Phase 4 - Security and Stabilization: In the days after the first three phases, U.S. Marines, Afghan National Army soldiers, and U.S. Navy. And no, I'm not trying to diss you, I know nothing of you, and you of me. Because persons like you, never will understand! Medical services had been provided and a girls' school was built at Nangalam. While one of the aircraft performed a number of "decoy drops" to mislead any enemy observers, the other inserted a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team via fast rope in a saddle between Sawtalo Sar and Gatigal Sar, a peak just to the south of Sawtalo Sar. Matt Axelson wasnt just shot during that final battle in June 2005, he was shot repeatedly and in ways youd expect to be immediately fatal. They focus on PTSD, mTBI, and chronic pain. [6] While the goal of the operation was partially achieved, Shah regrouped in neighbouring Pakistan and returned with more men and armaments, boosted by the notoriety he gained from his ambush and helicopter shoot-down during Red Wings. Also the whole Afgan situation should have been avoided in the first place. But decided that your not worth it. Murphys pleas for help quickly fell silent as he continued to take rounds as he died. It appeared Axe, who must have been in unspeakable agony, had continued fighting for approximately 30 more rounds. The previous highest U.S. death toll from a single incident in the war came from a rocket attack on a Chinook helicopter carrying Navy SEALs during Operation Red Wings on June 28, 2005. Thats some serious badassery; thats a level of practically inhuman strength. Between 2010 and 2018 the Lone Survivor Foundation provided more than 25,200 hours of therapeutic services in a military-friendly environment to vets and their families, all at no cost to those receiving it. And with regards to voting whether or not to execute unarmed civilians, he admitted, "This is the first time I've ever heard of anything put to a vote like that. His goal was simple: protect his brothers. The Joint Combat Assessment Team report identified, through detailed metallurgical analysis, the type of projectile. In an article by Sean Naylor, Army Times senior correspondent, Navy Special Warfare Command spokesman Lieutenant Steve Ruh stated that with respect to making command decisions in the field, "Whether they're officer or enlisted, the senior guy ultimately has the ultimate authority." AXE During the following weeks of Red Wings II, ground units of 2/3 undertook a number of patrols, as did members of the Afghan National Army, Army Special Operations units, and Navy Special Operations units. Murphy's father said exactly this in a 2007 interview. ANA and Coalition forces still are actively. That QRF included an MH-47 Chinook, radio call sign Turbine 33, containing eight SEALs and eight 160th Army Special Operations Aviators. They would have gone anyway. We reverence the ultimate sacrifice they made while engaged in that fierce firefight on the global war's front lines on terrorism (GWOT). But the reality is that mission was a shit show from the beginning. As the Chinook raced to the battle, a rocket-propelled grenade struck the helicopter, killing all 16 men aboard. Erik S. Kristensen - Wikipedia The Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community will forever remember June 28, 2005, and our special operators' heroic efforts and sacrifices. And just like Pat Tillman, the DOD needed up a hero story to cover up a goatf@ck, except this time here's Luttrell already on the spot trying to cash in with a ghost written book so bad it can't even get the mission name right (it's Red Wings after the hockey team, not Redwing). Matthew Axelson - Wikipedia He was also known as Muhammad Ismail, a guerilla group known to locals as the Mountain Tigers. Contents [2][7], The name has been widely mis-stated as "Operation Redwing" and sometimes "Operation Red Wing". From running him off the road to planting a grenade outside his daughters bedroom, wounding his daughter, the Taliban didnt quit. The operation then became known as Red Wings II and lasted approximately three more weeks,[1][2] during which time the bodies of the killed SEALs and Army Special Operations aviators were recovered and the only surviving member of the initial SEAL team, Marcus Luttrell, was rescued. I saw the movie first and then read the book after. For the men who have seen the worst atrocities of combat and lost their brothers, surviving can take incredible will. Operation Red Wings Autopsy Report - ironwildflower.com Ive spent time with Luttrell in various locations but for some reason its that shot that has stuck with me. I will never quit. He let them go. I spent 3 years with a support team of Operation Enduring Freedom mostly at Bagram. Marcus Luttrell (born November 7, 1975) is a retired United States Navy SEAL who received the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his actions in June 2005 against Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wings in which he was the lone survivor. The Real-Life Story Behind "Lone Survivor" - HISTORY Rescue in Afghanistan | The American Legion How Navy SEAL Michael Murphy earned the Medal of Honor during Operation There was practically zero chance that such a poorly-planned operation could have succeeded. 11 SEALs, 8 Army Night Stalkers killed 15 years ago today in Operation [1][46] After word was received of his survival, Luttrell and Gulab were recovered by Pararescuemen Josh Appel and Chris Piercecchi. Maybe learn a little deeper about the area. Im not so sure after we were there, we should have left, like we did. Red Wings' goal was disrupting ACM activity, with an emphasis on disrupting Ahmad Shah's activities, which were based near the summit of Sawtalo Sar. Deep behind enemy lines, a very committed 4-man SEAL team had a vital task. He calls himself a coward. Doesn't matter anyway, cuz the Talis already knew where they were: they heard their infil bird, found the fast rope the SEALs kicked under a bush at the LZ, and followed their big Salomon boot prints up the mountain. Pat Tillman, on the other hand, was also a safety for the football Cardinals and it was he, not Larry Wilson who was killed in action. The fourth SEAL, Luttrell, was blasted over a ridge by a rocket-propelled grenade and was knocked unconscious. Learn the 3 most popular shooting stances & more. His story falls apart under scrutiny. I have researched this well! U.S. Navy SEALs from SEAL Team 10 and SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 expressed interest.[1][2]. Major Stephen C. Reich (May 22, 1971 - June 28, 2005) was an American soldier and Minor League Baseball player who was killed in action while on a rescue mission in Afghanistan at age 34. I watched a portion of one of his paid speeches where he claimed his back was broken and he had 11 through and throughs as he referred to them. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. Very chilling. The man has skills borne of experiences that will never be replicated and guess what, they have practical applications. He began the foundation to help service members and their families who were and are recovering from combat trauma. As described in the book, the reality of the situation is significantly different and more disturbing. and extra gear. Actual location of Operation Red Wings Axelson was shot not once but twice in the head and kept on fighting. In his condition, without assistance, he would probably have been killed or captured by the Taliban. Awards. I'm sure areas of the Korengal are teeming with bad guys, but Sawtalo Sar? Through his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and inspirational devotion to his men in the face of certain death, Lt. Murphy was able to relay his units position. And when Luttrell dragged him to what he hoped was a safer spot on the mountainside, Dietz kept his rifle raised and laid down cover fire even as he was dragged backward over the shale and dirt. [1][2] While many of Afghanistan's provinces at this time had stable security environments, one of the most restive continued to be the Kunar Province, which lies in eastern Afghanistan, on the border with Pakistan. Using imagery intelligence taken from an unmanned aerial vehicle on June 17, 2005, Westerfield identified likely structures used for housing his team, IED making, and overwatch of the area below for IED strikes. In that incident, sixteen Navy SEALs and Army special operations troops were killed, and three more SEALs were killed in subsequent fighting on the ground. Hes that guy youd go hunting with, share a few beers with, and just flat-out like. During this time, 2/3's intelligence officer, Captain Scott Westerfield, focused further on learning about Ahmad Shah. Although conditions remained harsh interrogation rooms used and eradicate abuses with overdoses almost all fluids of operation red wings autopsy report was unknown entity within one case and improvements in operation red liquid or their autopsy. In reply to Mike Washburne I think you are too harsh on LT Murphy, according to Mohammed Gulab the local tribesman who saved Lutrell the Taliban were already aware of the SEALs insertion and had heard the Helicopters and were close to being in a position to attack at the time the SEALs were debating what to do with goatherders. Meanwhile, Marcus Luttrell had been taken in by a local Afghan, Gulab, from the village of Salar Ban, roughly 0.7 miles (1.1km) down the northeast gulch of Sawtalo Sar[4] from the location of the ambush. My recommendation would be to watch the film first, then read the book for the facts and the rest of this amazing story of survival and loss. Look up Ed Darack, ex-SF guy, who spent years researching the entire fiasco for a book called Victory Point, dealing with a number of missions in that area. Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y. Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson, 29, of Cupertino, Calif. Machinist Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Eric S. Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nev. Senior Chief Information Systems Technician (SEAL) Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, N.H. Quartermaster 2nd Class (SEAL) James Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Fla. Gunners Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny P. Dietz, 25, of Littleton, Colo. Chief Fire Controlman (SEAL) Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, La. The autopsy report outlining Dietz's wounds is five pages long. guns & [2][40], The team, surmising that they would likely be compromised, retreated to a fallback position. It takes an enormous amount of strength, character, and bravery to tell the world the truth about such a sensitive situation when no one would ever have known the difference. Memoir, movie reveal transformation of Navy SEAL Danny Dietz If you would have researched it well, you would have known it would not make a difference! Shah could not risk a fight at that stage as he was outnumbered. Luttrell wrote about realizing there was no possible way to help his best friend because the enemy would surely kill him long before he reached Murphy. Lone Survivor and The Truth The Havok Journal The operation became known as Operation Red Wings II. It would be several days before a team of U.S. Army Rangers would arrive to extract Luttrell. This is an insult to Mike Murphy, as any officer who didn't plan for an obvious contingency like this would be incompetent. [2][3] The intensity of the incoming fire, combined with the type of attack, forced the SEAL team into the northeast gulch of Sawtalo Sar, on the Shuryek Valley side of Sawtalo Sar.