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. I crawled into the side of that mountain and covered myself with rocks, took mud and anything I could find, packed it into the open holes in my legs Then night came around. Purple Heart. 11 SEALs, 8 Army Night Stalkers killed 15 years ago today in Operation I am a non-combat US Army Vet I LOVE our military. -- When Ed and Suzanne Kristensen first heard about a Chinook helicopter being shot down in eastern Afghanistan on June 28, 2005, at first they feared for their Navy SEAL son Erik, who was deployed there at the time, but were reassured by a Navy friend that he likely wouldn't have been aboard. After the initial phases were completed, 2/3 could become the lead element. [39][failed verification], Further intelligence, including human intelligence and signals intelligence, indicated that Shah based his operations out of some small structures outside of the village of Chichal, high on the slopes of Sawtalo Sar mountain in the upper Korangal Valley, approximately 20 miles (32km) to the west of Kunar's provincial capital Asadabad. I recommend you reconsider it! Dehydrated, with a bullet wound to one leg, shrapnel embedded in both legs, three vertebrae cracked; the situation for Luttrell was grim. While I understand SEALs tend to exaggerate things and are confident to a fault. I spent 3 years with a support team of Operation Enduring Freedom mostly at Bagram. Extortion 17: The deadliest day in the DEVGRU history - Spec Ops Magazine He was a major HVT for Operation Red Wings. He moves quickly, silently, and effectively I watched him go from stalking and moving mode to proned out and on target before I could blink, and of course he dropped the running antelope with a single, precise shot in the same heartbeat. And then, the moment was forever lost: a Russian grenade launcher blew Luttrell out of the hollow and he never saw his teammate alive again. Actual location of Operation Red Wings Axelson was shot not once but twice in the head and kept on fighting. [3][11][12], The claim in Luttrell's book that Lieutenant Murphy considered and put to the vote the possible execution of unarmed civilians who stumbled upon the SEAL team has been criticized and dismissed by many as fiction. Matthew Axelson - Wikipedia They were after Ahmad Shah a cruel insurgent in his mid-30s who grew up in the same mountains. Even if the whole world would have thought that LT. Murphy made a mistake letting the boys go! You could ask Luttrell what he learned from Operation Red Wings, what he would change, and whether he is happy with the choices he made that day but it all comes down to this: never quit. Extortion 17, Seal Team Six and What Really Happened on the - Newsweek "Lone Survivor," the story of SEAL heroism in the mountains of Afghanistan, resurfaced in May 2016 after an article in which Mohammed Gulab, the man who saved lone SEAL survivor Marcus Luttrell, disputed some of the most important aspects of Luttrell's story.Lone Survivor was eventually made into a major motion picture, but that . We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared They sought to conduct this operation at night, after positive identification of Shah by a Marine Corps scout sniper team, which would walk into the area under cover of darkness some nights before. With writing this comment, you are not only discrediting LT. Murphy MOH, but you are also discrediting the work of many soldiers around the world in their fight against terrorism! [1][27] The operation was presented to a number of Special Operations units working in the area for possible "buy in". How many US soldiers have died that NOBODY knows but their brothers and family? Luttrell became a SO1 by the end of his eight-year career in the United States Navy.. Luttrell co-hosts After Action, a TV show in which former special . They knew the tremendous risk of going into an active enemy area in daylight without their attack support and the cover of night. No way. According to the Navy's summary of action, the four SEALs were "deep behind enemy lines," in difficult and rugged terrain in Afghanistan, on a reconnaissance mission scouting Ahmad Shah a. The operation became known as Operation Red Wings II. As described in the book, the reality of the situation is significantly different and more disturbing. Also the whole Afgan situation should have been avoided in the first place. On the side of that mountain, with his teammates under fire, he refused to falter. 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. Murphy kept crying out for help, and Luttrell set aside his weapon and put his fingers in his ears because he could not stand to hear his best friend die. Upon reaching Sawtalo Sar, the two MH-47s received small arms fire. Wanting to do something more tangible with the events of June 28, 2005 Luttrell decided to start the Lone Survivor Foundation in 2010. Type your email address and well send His overall intelligence picture of Shah took a substantial leap when 2nd Lieutenant Regan Turner, a platoon commander with 2/3's "Whiskey Company" a weapons company augmented to function like an infantry line company, gathered a wealth of human intelligence about Shah during a patrol including his full name: Ahmad Shah Dara-I-nur (Ahmad Shah of the Valley of the Enlightened ones); his birthplace, the Kuz Kunar District of Nangarhar Province; his primary alias: Ismael; his chief allegiance: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who was based out of the Shamshato Refugee Camp near Peshawar, Pakistan; his group's size: fifty to one hundred fighters; and his goals: to impede the upcoming elections and attempt to aid a resurgent Taliban in the region. This deliberate and heroic act deprived him of cover and made him a target for the enemy. Axe: A Brother's Search for an American Warrior is a beautifully crafted, action-filled biography of an elite commando's inspiring life and tragic deatha final chapter in the story of the Operation Red Wings mission, made famous in Marcus Luttrell's #1 New York Times bestseller Lone Survivor. [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. There was practically zero chance that such a poorly-planned operation could have succeeded. Pre-mission planning put the hostiles number at 20, tops. In 2007, Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle. Lone Survivor and The Truth The Havok Journal Battle of wanat for example was in korengal and the 173rd are without saying some of the best warriors the army produces but they were attacked by a battalion size element in this remote area you claim cant support those numbers. [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. If it pew-pews, its on. Then I crawled three more miles, Luttrell said in perhaps the most succinct summary anyone will ever give of the most horrific day of their lives. As the Chinook raced to the battle, a rocket-propelled grenade struck the helicopter, killing all 16 men aboard. Looking up, he saw a turbaned man carrying an axe. According to Luttrell, Axelson had three full magazines left at that moment in time. 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? Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Conn. Sgt. The password should contain at least 8 characters with at least one number or special character. The MH-47 Chinook was escorted by heavily-armored Army attack helicopters. Operation Red Wings was a pyrrhic victory U.S. victory. I thought he was a hero for a long time. Erik Samsel Kristensen (March 15, 1972 - June 28, 2005) was a Lieutenant commander of the United States Navy SEALs who was killed in action during Operation Red Wings. Kat is heading into her second decade of concealed carry, has been an avid hunter for decades, and has never met a firearm she didnt want to run (she also has a penchant for big bores). Read it, and then see if you want to make intelligent statements about our Spec Ops guys. Finally, after far too long, the American government assisted him in coming to the USA and he now lives with his family in Texas. You do not pay We reverence the ultimate sacrifice they made while engaged in that fierce firefight on the global wars front lines on terrorism (GWOT). Matthew Axelson, 29, was one of four Navy SEALs taking part in Operation Red Wing, a secret mission in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, to capture or kill Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, head of an insurgent group known as the "Mountain Tigers." The SEAL unit was betrayed to the Taliban, which attacked with a force of more than 40 men. Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y. 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). Operation Red Wings On June 28, 2005, deep behind enemy lines east of Asadabad in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan, a very committed four-man Navy SEAL team was conducting a reconnaissance mission at the unforgiving altitude of approximately 10,000 feet. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Fla. Sgt. 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. His injuries were so traumatic that the Navy recommended a closed casket. Exact same thing happened to an SAS team in Gulf 1. All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. Those Marines found no bodies at all, btw, pretty surprising for a supposed company sized Tali unit that had just suffered at least 50% casualties. Murphy's MoH citation said 30-50. He calmly provided his units location and the enemy forces size while requesting immediate support for his team. Personalize your experience. Being struck by the bullet caused him to drop both the phone and his rifle. [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. At the time of this writing its been almost 15 years since June 28, 2005, when four US Navy SEALs carried out an op to put eyes on known terrorist Ahmad Shah. Murphy called for assistance and eventually ensured that the surviving member of his team reached safety. This reminds of of when Larry Wilson was killed. Fact is, those Seals were pulled last minute from an SDV team,, and their hard infantry and recon skills had gotten a little soft. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio. PDF OPERATION RED WINGS - The (Mis)Information Aftermath - Darack [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. 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. One major difference between the film and the book is depicting the death of Luttrells leader and best friend, LT Michael Murphy. SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. So before you write anything again in that context, or in general before you ever say again that you did something well! Operation Red Wings Autopsy Report The black rifle coffee. Shah was from a remote region in Nangarhar Province, which borders the south side of Kunar Province. [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. While Murph made that final call the call that ultimately saved Luttrells life because it gave the military the situation and the last known location he was shot in the back. It felt disrespectful to the other 3 guys. So if youre wondering what hes like in person, well, hes a guy. Shah could not risk a fight at that stage as he was outnumbered. anything extra and your Knowing it would violate the rules of engagement to simply shoot the goatherders they let them go, and within a matter of hours found themselves in a battle for their lives. Lt. Murphy said he does not make war on children. [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. To rid themselves of Taliban forces in the area, led by a warlord named Ahmed Shah, the Marines put together Operation Red Wings, then called on the Navy SEALs based near Kabul. Murphy contacted the SOF Quick Reaction Force at Bagram Air Base and requested assistance while continuing to be fired upon. 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." He passed away peacefully in 2020. Several weeks later, Shah's group was attacked in Kunar Province and disabled while Shah was later seriously wounded during Operation Whalers in August 2005. purchase helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles. SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2, Virginia Beach, Va. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Adam Brown: The life and legacy of fearless Navy SEAL, The Day of the Rangers: An unforgettable moment in military history, ANA Commando: Afghanistans premier special operations unit, Examining the Differences in Training for SAS and Navy SEALs, Gunners Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz, Comms, Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marcus Luttrell, Medic. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a857c309eceeeba4679db7021855f495" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. 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. Luttrell's own AAR said 20-35. 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. She is a contributor for an array of major industry publications including USCCA Concealed Carry Magazine, Outdoor Life, and SHOT Business. LT. Murphy stood up in plain sight of the enemy to attempt to call in support for his team. Was SEAL Lt. Mike Murphy wrong to not surrender? : r/JockoPodcast - reddit Learn all the important stuff about handgunswith none of the attitude. 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. Asking for a friend. Determining that they were civilians, not combatants, Lieutenant Murphy released them, according to rules of engagement. Rescue in Afghanistan | The American Legion I will never quit. Thats some serious badassery; thats a level of practically inhuman strength. Copyright 2023 Pew Pew Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The MH-47 was escorted by heavily-armored, Army attack helicopters. Stephen C. Reich - Wikipedia Fact is, those soldiers died, and I'm sure if you could ask each of them, they'd want that movie made, 100% true or not. That's how movies work. Even before deploying to Afghanistan 2/3's, intelligence officer Captain Scott Westerfield and his assistants had been tracking a small cell led by a man named Ahmad Shah, based on intelligence sent back by 3/3's intelligence officer. [2][31] With the surrender of Najmudeen, ACM activity in the region dropped significantly. I had to turn it off. 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. 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.