‘Lone Survivor’: How Real Navy SEAL Ensured His Amazing Story Was Told Right

Yahoo ^ | Matt McDaniel

[Jack Hydrazine]

One of the problems with bringing a true story to the big screen is that the people who lived through the actual events are often not around to consult with the filmmakers to get the details right. That's why it was so important for Marcus Luttrell to be involved with the making of the upcoming war drama "Lone Survivor." He was the only man left to tell the story.

The film recreates Operation Red Wings, a four-man SEAL operation in Afghanistan in June 2005. Mark Wahlberg plays Luttrell, who was on a reconnaissance mission with his team when they were discovered by a small group of goatherds. Their position compromised, the SEALs allowed the civilians to go free; they then reported the team's position to nearby Taliban forces.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Related...

“Lone Survivor” trailer on youtube
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3050349/posts

First look: Mark Wahlberg stars as Marcus Luttrell in ‘Lone Survivor’ film
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3050341/posts

[FlingWingFlyer]

If you haven’t read Luttrell’s book, you should. The state-run, commie “media” and the shyster lawyers in this country killed those SEALs. It wasn’t the Taliban. They let the little bass turds go because they were afraid of being charged in this country if they tried to defend themselves. The buffoons on Capitol Hill need to fight their own damn wars. They should take their “lawyers” and “judges” with them.

[TMD]

The book Lone Survivor was absolutely riveting, I couldn’t put it down.

I also can’t wait to see Unbroken about Louis Zamperini. What a page-turner. It’s unbelievable what these men went through to ensure our continued freedom.

[ottbmare]

My father won some important decorations for extraordinary, even miraculous heroism in World War II. He was often in the countryside with Philippine guerrillas. From some things he said, he or someone close to him was at one point confronted with the moral choice these SEALs faced. On that occasion, knowing that “many” Americans would die if the Japanese were informed of their position, he (?) made a different choice. I’m sorry for the innocents who died. War is hell. It is this sort of impossible situation that is one of the evil things about it. But better them than Americans, including my father. Today, with better communications, a pack of hyenas in Congress, and a communist in the White House, the Americans would have died and the japs would have won.

[nutmeg]

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[freepersup]

If I have my facts right... a quick reaction force was sent into the breech to rescue the team, and the CH47 Chinook that they were riding in was shot down by a raghead firing an RPG from a line of sight position. All on board were lost. I was in-country at the time (Kandahar) and the news hit the base as if each of us had lost a car load of family members back in the states. A “local” way, way, way out and up, up, up in Injun country, took the surviving member of the SEAL team into his home in order to care for him, as is their custom (remarkable as it sounds) because Marcus had made it all the way to the local’s doorstep. The local was obligated to help according to local customs. I have not read the book... just going from memory. The tally that got off the shot was one lucky mofo and conversely, the helicopter crew and QRF had a VERY BAD day. I NEVER liked riding in those huge birds, and I always had two parachutes on when I did, permitting me to jump out each time, which I also did, AND I wasn't ever in hostile territory during those jumps.

[HiJinx]

You have a good memory of a bad event.

I hope the movie is as good as the book...looks like they’re trying to make it so by having Luttrell provide input.

[freepersup]

Most of what facts I remembered, came from the pages of Stars and Stripes, usually available at the entrances and exits of the DFACS (dining facilities, otherwise known as chow halls). There would often be a time lag regarding the releasing of facts, pending notification of next of kin, word of mouth being the exception. News travels fast; bad news travels faster.

Sadly, the QRF (quick reaction force) comprised of DEVGRP SEAL team members and other spec. ops. personnel, (that was shot down more recently) were also blown out of the sky by a “tally” using line of sight tactics, firing an RPG round into the CH47 Chinook that they were riding in. I believe US Army Rangers were the intended recipients of the QRF’s help.

Reminds me of the low tech. ways of the viet cong... firing sharpened branches or wooden posts from a position near the approach and departure paths of both rotary and fixed wing aircraft at remote bases or compounds in Vietnam.

[Squantos]

Watched the movie today .... Academy awards for the stunt men and the makers of the weapons.... Thrown and blown off too many cliffs to count.....

Marcus makes an appearance in the movie during the missions planning briefing. Good reverence and respect IMO to those who died during operation red wing.

Damn all goat herders .... Stay safe !!