While I was traveling, I picked up a paperback copy of Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell.
I had heard about this book by listening to Glenn Beck, who has had Marcus on his show several times before. As a fan of almost anything military, I thought this would make for a good read, and if I say so myself, I was right.

In Lone Survivor Marcus tells his story–this is a non-fiction book–and the story of SEAL team 10. The first half of the book involves Marcus’s account of his Navy SEAL training at BUD/S. Now, having watched a documentary on BUD/S on the Military Channel, I think I had a much better understanding of some of the things he talked about (and could certainly visualize things much better).

The second half of the book discusses his role in Operation Redwing, an operation where Marcus was the only survivor of the worst massacre in the history of the Navy SEALs. Marcus tells what happened, and how he survived and returned home to tell the tale.

Telling this story is something that Marcus had to do. He honors the men he served with by remembering them, and their incredible heroism in the worst of circumstances.

After reading this book, I feel like I know Marcus. The storytelling is fantastic, and the book reads like an action novel, but it is all too real. I laughed many times, and I cried like a baby a few times. I can now have some semblance of understanding as to why Marcus says he can no longer sleep at night. He hears his friends calling out to him in the quiet moments, but now he will never be alone in remembering them. He has told their story, and I am grateful.

I give this book the highest recommendation to those who love stories of our military (and can stomach or overlook the violence and langauge). What a great read!