Marcus Luttrell is a former United States Navy SEAL who gained national attention for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan. He was born on November 7, 1975, in Houston, Texas.
Luttrell joined the Navy in 1999 and completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in 2001. He was later deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and was a member of a four-man SEAL team tasked with tracking down a high-level Taliban leader. The mission, known as Operation Red Wings, went awry when the team was discovered by enemy fighters and came under heavy fire. Luttrell was the only survivor of the mission and was rescued by a group of local villagers who risked their own lives to protect him.
Luttrell’s harrowing story was later recounted in his book, Lone Survivor, which was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2013. He has also written several other books, including Service: A Navy SEAL at War and The Patriot’s Creed: Inspiration and Advice for Living a Heroic Life.
Since leaving the military, Luttrell has become a prominent advocate for veterans’ issues and is involved in several charitable organizations that support wounded veterans and their families. He is also a motivational speaker and has delivered speeches to audiences around the country on topics such as leadership, teamwork, and perseverance.
