important
How is the appreciation?
In "Lone Survivor" author Marcus Luttrell (with Patrick Robinson) relates in 390 pages the heroic stand at "Murphy's Ridge", near the hamlet of Sabray, Afghanistan in 2005. Out-gunned at approximately 30-1, Luttrell's SEAL team, commanded by Michael Murphy, battled Taliban and al Qaeda terrorist fighters to a standstill 4 times until all of the SEAL team members were dead except Luttrell. Badly wounded, his escape and evasion tactics to avoid capture or death were clear thinking and noteworthy.Mechanically, the narrative was a disaster. Clich&eacute;-ridden and clumsy, the early chapters relate Luttrell's childhood in East Texas and his SEAL training which civilians might find interesting, but veterans can skip on through it. As the reader approaches mid-way, Mr. Luttrell opines on several issues including the Left leaning Main Stream Media, the ridiculous Rules of Engagement for our fighters in the region and other geopolitical issues for which he is grossly under qualified. The fact that he is correct is not the subject at hand.Continuing, Luttrell related the incredible bravery of team leader Michael Murphy as he purposely exposed himself to get cell phone reception to call for assistance. A support and extraction team was swiftly sent to the area but the chopper was hit by rockets with the loss of all hands.Befriended by local Afghans, Luttrell  was finally rescued by Green Beret and Ranger search teams.For his uncommon valor, Murphy was posthumously awarded the War On Terror's first Metal of Honor. Three others, including Luttrell, received the Navy Cross, the nation's second highest combat award for Navy and Marine Corps personnel.Mechanics aside, this story and this book are important. It is unlikely the heroic sacrifices of these war-fighters would have ever been fully told without it. I'd rate it 4 and 1/2 stars and well worth the readers's time. 