Leave No Man Behind
The Untold Story of the Rangers' Unrelenting Search for Marcus Luttrell, the Navy SEAL Lone Survivor in Afghanistan
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4.5 • 14 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
"Vivid, fast-paced . . . [An] account of the actions by US Army Rangers on the ground in Afghanistan that best illustrated the commitment in the Ranger creed." —General David Petraeus
On June 28, 2005, a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance team under Operation Red Wings was ambushed in northeastern Afghanistan—as depicted in the book and film Lone Survivor. A quick reaction force was dispatched. Turbine 33, carrying eight Navy SEALs and eight members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, was struck by a rocket propelled grenade—careening the dual rotor Chinook toward the rugged peak of Sawtalo Sar.
The result was the single deadliest incident in Special Operations history at the time.
Commanders called on the largest element of US Special Forces, the 75th Ranger Regiment. The rescue mission: Operation Red Wings II.
Author Tony Brooks gives a first-hand account of the daring recovery of Turbine 33 and the subsequent search for the remaining compromised Navy SEAL recon team—one of whom was Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor.
Tony Brooks lived—and many of his fellow Rangers died—by the axiom, "Leave No Man Behind." He is the first to tell the story other books and films have omitted, one of overcoming overwhelming odds to accomplish a mission: to bring every American soldier home.
"A heart-wrenching story of one of the most important military missions of our generation." —John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, United States Military Academy, author of Connected Brothers"
"In the spirit of Stephen E. Ambrose's Band of Brothers, Tony Brooks writes with a humble, authentic voice that speaks to all Americans." —Jeffrey Layton, author of The Vigilant Spy
Customer Reviews
Read It!
Tony Brooks’ Leave No Man Behind reads almost like a personal journal, giving the reader an intimate look into his life, military service, and the experiences that ultimately shaped the man he became.
Brooks begins by describing his early years and comes across as remarkably humble. He portrays himself as an average person—nothing particularly extraordinary—with the exception of his strong competitive nature, determination, and deep sense of loyalty. That humility carries throughout the book and makes his story feel genuine and relatable.
The narrative eventually turns to the event that would profoundly affect Brooks and his fellow soldiers: the shootdown of a U.S. military helicopter in Afghanistan that resulted in the deaths of 16 American service members. The helicopter had been part of the effort to rescue four Navy SEALs who had gone missing during Operation Red Wings, an operation most readers will recognize from Marcus Luttrell’s book Lone Survivor and its subsequent film adaptation.
Brooks provides a firsthand account of the difficult journey to reach the helicopter wreckage and the heartbreaking task of recovering the bodies of those who were killed. He writes openly about the emotional impact of the mission and how the experience changed him as both a soldier and a man.
The book also follows the continuing search for the four SEALs. Three were ultimately found dead, while Marcus Luttrell survived and was rescued, becoming the “lone survivor” of the SEAL reconnaissance team.
What makes Leave No Man Behind especially compelling is that Brooks’ story does not end on the battlefield. He also writes about returning home, marrying the woman he loves, building a family, and moving forward with his life while carrying the memories and lessons of his military service with him. In my opinion, his ability to build a successful life after experiencing such tragedy is an important part of his story.
Leave No Man Behind is a powerful and deeply personal account of service, sacrifice, loyalty, loss, and perseverance. Brooks’ journal-like approach gives the book an authenticity that makes the reader feel connected to both the author and the men whose stories he tells.
A great read and one that I highly recommend.
Leave No Man Behind
A very good book.