Lone Survivor: Operation Redwing

Operation Redwing was designed to kill or capture a high ranking Taliban leader in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan. The mission was assigned to a four man sniper unit of Seal Team 10. They were to infill behind enemy lines and lay eyes on a village suspected to hide the Taliban leader. The enemy opposition was estimated to be 80-200 hardened Taliban fighters. The mission was to get in undetected, kill or capture the leader and exfill without confronting the Taliban fighters. The mission would end with the label of being the largest loss of Special Operations life in history.

In his book, “Lone Survivor”, author and only surviving members of the four man sniper team, Marcus Latrell relays the following chain of events that tested his SEAL training and mental toughness.

The four members of SEAL Team 10 fated for this mission were commanding officer Mike Murphy, Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz and Marcus Latrell. They infilled into the mountain range and hiked through the night with 65 pounds of gear a piece on very technical terrain. The made into their hide or observation point early the next morning and laid eyes on the village.

After a while, three Afghans came upon them. Fearing they were Taliban, the SEALs took the upper hand and engaged the Afghans. They claimed they were goat herders and not Taliban, a statement made more plausible due to the sheep surrounding them. The team knew that if they released them they would most likely alert the Taliban. They had to decide whether to release them or kill them. Due to fear of reprisal for their actions back home they elected to let them live.

Shortly after, the team noticed approximately 100 Taliban fighters standing on the ridge preparing their attack. The “goat herders” had alerted the Taliban. Now the four SEALs were faced with battling 100 Taliban. The Taliban began to close on their general position not knowing exactly where they were. The fire fight started when one Taliban got to close and was dropped by Latrell.

The battle raged for hours. The Americans were falling back as the Taliban pressed their attacks. Several times the Americans were almost overrun when the Taliban had their flanks covered. During the relentless combat there after, Dietz took six AK 47 rounds at different times. After each shot, he returned to the fight and continued dropping the enemy. At one point Dietz was being dragged away after taking an AK 47 round. He held his M4 rifle up with one hand and was continuing to kill Taliban fighters.

As the enemy continued pressing their attack, the four SEALs continued killing them. It was approximately 45 Taliban against each SEAL. As the SEALs continued gunning down and killing them enemy more and more appeared on the ridge. They were constantly re-enforcing their ranks and pressing the attack.

The SEALs were still battling hard. Axelson, who had already been shot in the stomach, took another round to the head which blew off the right side of his head. After staggering up the hill, he regained his sense and continued engaging the enemy.
Commanding Officer Mike Murphy attempted to get comms with a QRF but was unable. As a last resort, he moved into the clear risking being shot by the Taliban to make a last desperate cell phone call. He made contact and asked for help and stated his men were dying. Back at base, other SEALs immediately mounted up and moved into the mountains by helicopter. While trying to get to their buddies, the helicopter took an RPG round and crashed. All SEALs on board and the 160th SOAR Nightstalker crew perished.

By this time, Mike Murphy, Matthew Axelson and Danny Dietz were dead. Latrell was blown down the mountain and was able to avoid capture. Over the next day, Latrell watched as the enemy searched for him and was able to kill several more of them.

Members of the local village came upon Latrell and discussed whether to help him or turn him over to the Taliban. The villagers are not Taliban but do help them in the mountains. An old tradition says that if they take someone in to the village they must protect him with their lives. They elected to help him and hide him from the Taliban.

Over the next six days, the village elder helped Latrell survive, dressed his gunshot and shrapnel wounds and evade the Taliban. Later, the village elder would walk 65 miles to an American base to inform them of Latrell’s position. During the six days they had many close calls involving the Taliban looking for Latrell but with the help of the villagers, he was able to stay alive.

In the end, Latrell and several members of the village left the village to move to an American friendly base several miles away. As they left, they became encircled by the Taliban. Just then, an American Ranger came out of the bushes and greeted Latrell. Latrell informed them of the enemy’s positions and air strikes began pounding the enemy.

The loss of special operations life on this mission is unfathomable, but much must be said about the character of these men. To sustain so much tragedy as a team, all suffering from gunshot and shrapnel wounds, seeing their friends and brothers die and they did not quite. They continued to fight, killing over 100 hardened Taliban fighters. These men are true heroes, the sacrificed everything for each other, so that the other guy would live. This is what our American military is all about. These are the greatest men of our generation.