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Operation Red Wings: The Rescue Story Behind Lone Survivor
Operation Red Wings provides an in-depth examination of the recovery mission to rescue Marcus Luttrell, filled with never-before-told details and shocking new revelations. Marcus Luttrell's blockbuster bestseller, Lone Survivor—now a major motion picture—tells the story of Operation Red Wings, in which four U.S. Navy SEALs were inserted into the mountains of eastern Afghanistan with the task of collecting intelligence and finding—or killing—a top al Qaeda commander. The SEALs were ambushed by over one hundred Taliban fighters and a horrific battle ensued. The rescue helicopter carrying eight SEALs was shot down by a reported Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), killing them instantly and erasing any hope for the SEALs already on the ground. Luttrell was the only survivor.Author Peter Nealen (former USMC Force Recon) and the team at SOFREP have an expansive network within the Special Operations community, providing them with access to exclusive interviews, after action reports, military intel and previously untold accounts of the rescue mission. Nealen and his team have uncovered eyewitness reports that put the "official" story into question as to how the initial rescue helicopter was shot down. If true, this potential coverup will have had severe consequences on subsequent helicopter insertion operations and put lives at risk.Complete with a foreword by former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb, this is a must-have companion to the blockbuster book and upcoming film.
52 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2013
52 people are currently reading
594 people want to read
About the author
Peter Nealen
73 books108 followersPeter Nealen is a former Recon Marine, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and something of an aspiring renaissance man (emphasis on aspiring). He has long been a reader of history, philosophy, folklore, science fiction, and fantasy, and is the author of the American Praetorians series of paramilitary thrillers as well as the Jed Horn series of supernatural thrillers.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 16, 2026
I enjoy war memoirs quite a bit, but a lot of them are very bloated and difficult to finish. This one was short and to the point. I really appreciated that.
September 22, 2014
Quick read, but unanswered questions remain
I purchased this book after reading the reviews. It was a quick read, and I, too, was left with more unanswered questions. There was some terminology that I was not familiar with as I was not in the military. I wish there was a map of the area to help explain some of the recovery based of the locations talked about in the book. I am happy that I read more about the recovery efforts not mentioned in Luttrell's book, but I am disappointed there was not more detail and reports included.
I purchased this book after reading the reviews. It was a quick read, and I, too, was left with more unanswered questions. There was some terminology that I was not familiar with as I was not in the military. I wish there was a map of the area to help explain some of the recovery based of the locations talked about in the book. I am happy that I read more about the recovery efforts not mentioned in Luttrell's book, but I am disappointed there was not more detail and reports included.
February 20, 2016
Good read
I read this in one sitting. Quick and to the point. God Bless all SOF and any others down range.
I read this in one sitting. Quick and to the point. God Bless all SOF and any others down range.
Read
January 29, 2026Leave no man behind
A fact based account detailing the rescue of one American hero and the recovery of three more heroes. We must never forget the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. Read this and absorb the camaraderie and brotherhood that makes a human sacrifice his life to protect his bothers and sisters. These warriors fight for freedom, fight for country, fight for us. They fight not because they hate what is in front of them but because they love those around them.
A fact based account detailing the rescue of one American hero and the recovery of three more heroes. We must never forget the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. Read this and absorb the camaraderie and brotherhood that makes a human sacrifice his life to protect his bothers and sisters. These warriors fight for freedom, fight for country, fight for us. They fight not because they hate what is in front of them but because they love those around them.
Read
March 2, 2020All the boys are home.
I cannot imagine the stress of what Marcus went through. I know as a Corpsman, I carried stress and guilt because I had never seen combat. I count myself blessed for missing that hell. God bless those who gave the last measure for the greater good.
I cannot imagine the stress of what Marcus went through. I know as a Corpsman, I carried stress and guilt because I had never seen combat. I count myself blessed for missing that hell. God bless those who gave the last measure for the greater good.
May 2, 2021
I guess that it was okay. It read more like a list of events or a mission report more so than any sort of narrative or story. Not that great writing overall. So many ways that it could have been improved.
April 7, 2020
Military acronyms are way too many and for anything.. They make sense though. There are some tough guys out there. Rangers, Navy Seals.. we are indebted to you. Thankyou for the service.
April 16, 2020
Good read. Truthful and interesting
Worthwhile and truthful. Studied and told properly. The unsung needed heroes stories told right. Definitely worth it. I found it authentic
Worthwhile and truthful. Studied and told properly. The unsung needed heroes stories told right. Definitely worth it. I found it authentic
May 14, 2020
Great and entertaining book.
August 22, 2021
Rescue Story Behind Lone Survivor
This book was an excellent quick read as to the recovery operation of our fallen heroes who sacrificed everything so that we remain free.
This book was an excellent quick read as to the recovery operation of our fallen heroes who sacrificed everything so that we remain free.
July 4, 2022
Great story of hero's.
March 14, 2014
This short read (60 pages) details the 'other' side of the story told by Marcus Luttrell in Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.
While Marcus tells the story of events on the mountain, Peter Nealen describes the search, rescue, and recovery operations that occurred in parallel with the Lone Survivor narrative.
If you started to read Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10, or you saw the movie, then you need to read this book.
While Marcus tells the story of events on the mountain, Peter Nealen describes the search, rescue, and recovery operations that occurred in parallel with the Lone Survivor narrative.
If you started to read Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10, or you saw the movie, then you need to read this book.
January 12, 2014
Short book, a recap of the rescue and recovery efforts, to bring home the remains of the three Navy SEALS killed, and the one survivor, of Operation Red Wings. Takes up where 'Lone Survivor' left off. Tremendous story of total effort by members of the Navy, the Army and the US Air Force. "Leave no one behind".
As a local side note, the PJ, Air Force member Joshua E. Appel, who directly helped get SEAL Marcus Lutrell off the mountain in Afghanistan, is now a civilian, and the Medical Director, Adult and Trauma Services at UAMC here in Tucson, still saving lives. He was on duty in the ER when the survivors of the mass shooting here in Tucson, including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, my Congresswoman,were brought to the hospital. On January 8th, 2011.
As a local side note, the PJ, Air Force member Joshua E. Appel, who directly helped get SEAL Marcus Lutrell off the mountain in Afghanistan, is now a civilian, and the Medical Director, Adult and Trauma Services at UAMC here in Tucson, still saving lives. He was on duty in the ER when the survivors of the mass shooting here in Tucson, including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, my Congresswoman,were brought to the hospital. On January 8th, 2011.
March 13, 2014
Concise and to the Point
Concise and to the Point
A definitive background review of the ill fated rescue operation that took place in Afghanistan, when a SEAL Team was compromised, three of it's four members killed, and the fourth granted hospitality and protection by the village leader and his sons. Although the operation and it's failure was poignantly described in the book Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell, the subsequent rescue mission was only briefly mentioned. Operation Redwing fills that gap with short but concise narrative using only the known facts that were available and skips the speculative hyperbole. This book makes an excellent companion to The Lone Survivor.
Concise and to the Point
A definitive background review of the ill fated rescue operation that took place in Afghanistan, when a SEAL Team was compromised, three of it's four members killed, and the fourth granted hospitality and protection by the village leader and his sons. Although the operation and it's failure was poignantly described in the book Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell, the subsequent rescue mission was only briefly mentioned. Operation Redwing fills that gap with short but concise narrative using only the known facts that were available and skips the speculative hyperbole. This book makes an excellent companion to The Lone Survivor.
December 19, 2013
Though there is no great amount of new data for those who have read Lone Survivor and Victory Point, and watched the documentary The Taliban Gambit - Helicopter Missions, it does bring in a few bits and pieces that help us put the puzzle together, either by contrast to or by confirmation of other accounts. It is a slim package, a short but very interesting narrative. I'd definetely recommend it as both a refreshment/fine tunning to the afficionado and as a nice, brief companion to those who want to see the upcoming Lone Survivor movie but are not willing to read very much about those sad events.
February 24, 2014
Great Fast Read
After reading Lone Survivor I bought this book. It wasn't until after watching the movie did I remember that I never read this account of the story. SOFREP and Brandon Webb always put out good behind the scene stories. I really liked this book because it gives me a look at what happened behind the scenes with the rescue attempt. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed reading Lone Survivor and watching the movie.
After reading Lone Survivor I bought this book. It wasn't until after watching the movie did I remember that I never read this account of the story. SOFREP and Brandon Webb always put out good behind the scene stories. I really liked this book because it gives me a look at what happened behind the scenes with the rescue attempt. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed reading Lone Survivor and watching the movie.
July 17, 2014
Informative
Informative
I found that this book to fit well in conclusion to both the book and movie by Marcus, it provided a broader view of behind-the-scenes and what happened in regards to the retrieval of the bodies of remaining seals and other military personnel.
Informative
I found that this book to fit well in conclusion to both the book and movie by Marcus, it provided a broader view of behind-the-scenes and what happened in regards to the retrieval of the bodies of remaining seals and other military personnel.
August 7, 2014
Ugh! a bunch of technical data, intelligible to only those who get their jollies from reading repair manuals. If you are not a Seal, you will probably find this booooring, as I did. The author thinks he is presenting proof of another first person narrative. After about twelve pages of this, I no longer gave a damn about the Lone Survivor story. Afghanistan was a huge waste of time and money.
May 10, 2015
Great story of a wartime recovery
This is a much more descriptive report of a mission to recover Navy Seals right from under the Taliban enemy fighters. If you like to study military maneuvers, you will like this book.
This is a much more descriptive report of a mission to recover Navy Seals right from under the Taliban enemy fighters. If you like to study military maneuvers, you will like this book.
January 14, 2014
I read this after seeing the movie. This details the rescue/recovery.
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January 20, 2014Really great and an awesome book to go with Lone Survivor
Although a pretty short book, if you have read Lone Survivor, you must read this also! Great book to SOFREP!
Although a pretty short book, if you have read Lone Survivor, you must read this also! Great book to SOFREP!
March 9, 2014
Very interesting. Great companion to Lone Survivor. Incredible story about REAL heroes.
July 2, 2014
A quick read that was informative. It is a sad story but I need to read it as a follow up to Lone Survivor.
October 7, 2014
CLOSURE
this gave me a more in-depth viewing of what took place after the action stopped.
I salute those who took part in operation red wing
this gave me a more in-depth viewing of what took place after the action stopped.
I salute those who took part in operation red wing
September 8, 2015
Red Wings
Very good read. Put a timeline of events together before I started to read about it. I loved that this was put out.
Very good read. Put a timeline of events together before I started to read about it. I loved that this was put out.
January 12, 2021
Good book
Very good analysis of the events in question and explains very well how discrepancies may have crept in to the reports of the events.
Very good analysis of the events in question and explains very well how discrepancies may have crept in to the reports of the events.
April 5, 2017
I thought this short read was very good story. I find military books and movies very interesting. Although the story is very short, it is straight to the point and quick to read. Got my attention right away. The Lone Survivor Movie is one of the best movies, and the book really explains all the truth behind the movie. When the author talks about the rescue mission, it gets intense and is filled with action packed scenes. Reading this story, I got a more full understanding of what the mission was actually like with behind the scenes details. Operation Red Wings grabbed my attention right away and really got me on the edge of my seat.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews