Early life and education

Luttrell was born in Houston, Texas on November 7, 1975. He began training for the U.S. Navy SEALs at the age of 14, with U.S. Army veteran Billy Shelton, who lived near Luttrell's home. Lutrell trained every day with his twin brother, Morgan, and others who aspired to join the U.S Navy and other Special Operations Forces. Shelton trained them using various weight and endurance exercises. After high school, Luttrell attended Sam Houston State University and joined the Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Delta Tau Delta.

Career

United States Navy

Luttrell enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March 1999. After graduating from training camp and Hospital Corpsman A-school, he transferred to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Class 226. However, due to a fractured femur he suffered on the obstacle course, he graduated with Class 228 on April 21, 2000. Luttrell received his SEAL trident February 2, 2001. Dick Couch's book, The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228, describes the training of Class 228, and names Luttrell as one of the graduates of that class.

After completing BUD/S, Lutrell attended Army jump school and SEAL Qualification Training. He was then sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for the Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) course. SOCM was an additional six months of advanced training in conventional and unconventional medical skills, ranging from diagnosis and treatment of many conditions to advanced emergency medicine and battlefield life support. He was deployed to Iraq with SEAL Team 5 on April 14, 2003, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, to root out and destroy leftover Iraqi resistance and joined in the search for WMDs. Afterwards, he carried out operations to eliminate or capture terrorists.

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.

The ambush during Operation Red Wings was intense. 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 gulch 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 (Multi Band Inter/Intra Team Radio) 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, who eventually sent an emissary to the nearest U.S. base to secure his safe rescue and ultimately save his life. After recovering from his injuries, he returned to active duty and deployed to Ramadi during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006, as part of SEAL Team Five. He later had his knees blown out and fractured his spine again. This ultimately led to his discharge.

The target of Operation Red Wings, Mohammad Ismail alias Ahmad Shah, survived the American operation but was killed during a firefight with Pakistani police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in April 2008.

Returning home

Luttrell returned to the U.S. in 2007, and co-authored the New York Times bestseller Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. A film version, starring Mark Wahlberg, was released on December 25, 2013.

In 2007, Luttrell was medically discharged from the Navy. In 2009, he was granted a medical retirement through the Board for the Correction of Naval Records.

In May 2012, Little, Brown and Company released Lutrell's latest book, co-authored with James D. Hornfischer, Service: A Navy SEAL at War.

Lone Survivor Foundation

In 2010, Luttrell established the Lone Survivor Foundation. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the foundation's mission is to "restore, empower, and renew hope for our wounded warriors and their families through health, wellness, and therapeutic support." The vision is to "provide exceptional therapeutic, outdoor, and unique opportunities that optimize recovery and healing of affected American wounded service members and their families."

Luttrell and The Lone Survivor Foundation partnered with The Boot Campaign to help show tangible appreciation of America’s active duty military, raise awareness of the challenges they face upon return, and support the transition home.

Personal life

Luttrell married Melanie Juneau on November 27, 2010, in Texas. Their son Axe, named after fallen SEAL comrade Matthew Axelson, was born on May 8, 2011. On January 14, 2012, at an event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Lutrell announced that he and his wife were expecting their second child. Their daughter, Addie, was born on August 26, 2012.

Marcus’ twin brother Morgan Luttrell, also a retired Navy SEAL, is pursuing an advanced degree in applied cognition at the University of Texas. Morgan served eight years as an enlisted sailor and six as an officer; he left the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant.

Luttrell has endorsed the 2016 presidential campaign of former Texas governor Rick Perry and was present, alongside his twin brother Morgan, at Perry's formal announcement on June 4, 2015.

DASY

As part of Luttrell's recuperation he was given a yellow Labrador puppy, whom he named DASY. Each letter of the name "DASY" represents one of the members of his team—Danny Dietz, Matthew "Axe" Axelson, Southern boy (Marcus), and Michael "Yankee" Murphy. DASY was given to Luttrell during his recovery, to help him through rehabilitation.

On April 1, 2009, at approximately 1:00 A.M., four men approached Luttrell's property and killed DASY with a .357 Magnum revolver. Luttrell proceeded to chase the individuals through four counties, in his truck, armed with two 9 mm Berettas, until Onalaska Police apprehended the individuals. Upon arrest, the suspects verbally threatened Luttrell's life and taunted him. Alfonso Hernandez was arrested on-scene for driving without a valid driver's license and later was charged with animal cruelty. Michael Edmonds turned himself in on April 7, was booked, and posted bond on the same charge. The other two individuals were not indicted. The males are also suspects in the killings of other neighborhood dogs. On November 29, 2011, Luttrell posted on his Facebook page that "Court date on Thursday for DASY's killer's I'll keep y'all posted on what happens. It's only been almost 3 years glad it's finally here" and again on December 1, 2011, saying they were found guilty.

On March 7, 2012, Alfonso Hernandez was given the maximum sentence of two years in a state jail, for the felony charge of animal cruelty, and was fined $1,000. After his guilty plea and testimony against Hernandez, Michael John Edmonds was sentenced to five years probation and fined $1,000 for the same offense. At the sentencing, Luttrell testified that he was “still pretty upset” about the killing of DASY and that he felt both defendants should have gotten the maximum sentence.

In popular culture

Films

• In the film Lone Survivor (2013), Luttrell was portrayed by actor Mark Wahlberg. Luttrell makes a significant cameo appearance in the film (uncredited) in at least three scenes in the film and is present in other scenes, as well. He first appears as one of the SEALs, referred to as "Frankie" by Lt. Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), lightheartedly hazing rookie SEAL Shane Patton (Alexander Ludwig) before the mission, jokingly giving Shane his first mission or "op" of cleaning the table, supplemented by knocking over a drink. His second appearance is during the presentation of the rules of engagement for Operation Red Wings where he can be seen shaking his head at the rules governing return fire. This scene is significant. In his book, Lone Survivor, Marcus explains extensively how these rules created substantial risk for the forces in Afghanistan. His third appearance is later in the film as one of the 16 special operators aboard the doomed Chinook helicopter sent to rescue Luttrell and his team. The camera stops on him and several real-life SEALs just before the Taliban's rocket-propelled grenade comes through the open rear bay door and impacts the Chinook's interior, killing everyone aboard. "I was on the other side of the mountain when those guys came to help me," Luttrell says of his real-life experience, "so getting to die on the helicopter in the movie was a very powerful moment for me."

Literature

• In his book American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History (2012), Chris Kyle says he and fellow Navy SEAL Luttrell are friends, and Kyle encourages his readers to also read Luttrell's book, Lone Survivor.

Television

• Luttrell appears in a Season 9 episode of the A&E series Duck Dynasty, visiting West Monroe, Louisiana to honor two wounded Marines for their service.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]