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Rick Magers[.]. We are one of only a few countries that are truly free, and it's that way because of men like Marcus Luttrell. As an author myself I always look for the professionalism in a book written by the person that experienced the book's content, and this book is as well written as anythig that Vince Flynn or Robert Ludlum has written.BUT.this story is all true. Every American should read this and then take a hard look at every man or woman wearing the uniform of an American Soldier, and they will probably see that person in a new light.
I understand more about the military than I ever thought I would know or even want to. Bravo Marcus, so happy you were able to bring these memories and experiences home to us Americans that you have protected. This book was amazing. This book is like an action movie in print. Happy Fourth of July, I am sure this is one of the most special days in your life.Patti Branco It kept me on edge and was well written and authentic. I have to admit-the first part, the training for the Seals was interesting but nowhere as compelling as the excursion into the Taliban war zone, after the initial Seal training.
The most famous example, of course,is "Bravo Two Zero", which according to currently available information never had any enemy contact at all, but whose exploits in several contradictory books and a movie morphed into an epic running battle resulting in hundreds of dead Iraqis. Unfortunately, Luttrell is the "lone survivor", and his account, or rather his ghost writer's rendering of it, has way too many holes in it to be believable.
From a marketing point of view, judging by the vast majority of reviews posted here, they hit it right on the head. This isn't how it happened; this is what the ghost writer thinks the American audience wants to read, complete with silly political rantings the kind of which I have never read in a military memoir before.
The fact that this quite awful book was "co"written by a British hack (a rather odd choice for an American soldier) already explains a lot. There is no question in my mind that some heroic things happened on that mission; I don't think they would give the medal of honor to someone who didn't deserve it.
But they've done a disservice to the special forces community and to those readers who want serious military history, not artificial patriotism a la FOX news. There is a time honored tradition in British special forces memoirs to simply make stuff up, usually more violence, to make the story sexier.
I suspect the same happened here.
AND, when the rubber met the proverbial road in this story, these particular guys showed a kind of bravery that will surely impress you. No, the writing was NOT exemplary.Yes, at times it was repetitive.Yes, 10,000 less words would have made this story better.You probably won't always agree with the author's political beliefs.BUT,If you'd like to read a gut wrenching true story of a REAL group of hero's, then buy and read this book. What these guys go through in TRAINING is amazing.
This is something America needs to see, realize and wake up to. The Hero's and heroics described in this book literally choked me up.While I'm sure it wasn't a focal point or intent of the author's, I especially appreciated the parts about how outdated Rules of Engagement, the biased liberal media and civilian lawyers are getting brave men and women killed every day. This cannot continue.Pickup this book, you won't regret it for a moment and you will end up passing it around to friends and family so you will get your money's worth. Once I picked this book up, I could not put it down. It was exciting, informative and emotional.
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