Marcus Luttrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcus Luttrell
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Luttrell in 2007
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| Nickname(s) | "Southern Boy" "The One" "The Lone Survivor" |
| Born | November 7, 1975 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1999–2007 |
| Rank | Petty Officer First Class |
| Unit |  United States Navy SEALs• SEAL Team 5 • SEAL Team 10 • SDV Team 1 |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards |  Navy Cross Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart |
| Spouse(s) |
Melanie Juneau
(m. 2010) |
| Relations | Morgan (twin brother) |
| Other work | Lone Survivor (2007) |
| Website | https://marcusluttrell.com |
Marcus Luttrell (born November 7, 1975) is a former United States Navy SEAL. He is well-known for his bravery during a mission in Afghanistan in 2005. He was the only survivor of a tough battle called Operation Red Wings. For his actions, he received important awards like the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart. He served in the United States Navy for eight years.
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Early life and training
Marcus Luttrell was born in Houston, Texas, on November 7, 1975. He started training to become a Navy SEAL when he was only 14 years old. His neighbor, Billy Shelton, a former U.S. Army veteran, helped him train.
Marcus trained daily with his twin brother, Morgan, and other friends. They all wanted to join special military teams. Billy Shelton taught them many exercises to build strength and stamina. After high school, Marcus went to Sam Houston State University. He studied International Business and graduated in 1998.
Military career
Marcus Luttrell joined the United States Navy in March 1999. He completed basic training and then went through the tough Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) program. He earned his special Navy SEAL badge on February 2, 2001. After that, he received six more months of advanced medical training. This training taught him how to provide emergency medical care in battle.
Serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
In April 2003, Marcus was sent to Iraq with SEAL Team 5. His team helped find and stop enemy fighters. They also searched for dangerous weapons. Later, he helped capture or eliminate terrorists.
In 2005, he was sent to Afghanistan with SEAL Team Ten. There, he was part of a mission called Operation Red Wings. During this mission, his four-man team was spotted by local herdsmen. The SEALs knew the herdsmen might tell enemy fighters where they were. But the herdsmen were unarmed, so the team let them go. Soon after, the SEAL team was attacked by many enemy fighters. Marcus Luttrell was the only one of his team to survive this intense battle.
The main target of Operation Red Wings, a leader named Mohammad Ismail, was not captured during this mission. He was later killed in 2008 by Pakistani police. After recovering from his injuries, Marcus returned to duty. He was sent to Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006. He suffered more injuries to his knees and spine. These injuries led to his leaving the Navy.
In 2007, President Bush gave Marcus Luttrell the Navy Cross. This award is given for extreme heroism in battle. The award praised his courage and dedication to his teammates. It recognized his brave fight against a much larger enemy force.
Marcus Luttrell returned to the U.S. in 2007. He wrote a book called Lone Survivor. This book tells his story from Operation Red Wings. A movie based on his book, also called Lone Survivor, was released in 2013. The actor Mark Wahlberg played Marcus in the film.
In 2007, Marcus was medically discharged from the Navy due to his injuries. In 2012, he released another book called Service: A Navy SEAL at War.
Lone Survivor Foundation
In 2010, Marcus Luttrell started the Lone Survivor Foundation. This foundation helps wounded military members and their families. It provides support for their health and well-being. The foundation works to help them heal and find hope.
Personal life
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Marcus Luttrell married Melanie Juneau in Texas on November 27, 2010. Their son, Axe, was born in 2011. He was named after Marcus's fallen SEAL teammate, Matthew Axelson. Their daughter, Addie, was born in 2012.
Marcus's twin brother, Morgan Luttrell, also served as a Navy SEAL. Morgan later worked as an advisor for the U.S. Energy Secretary. In 2022, Morgan was elected to represent Texas's 8th congressional district in the U.S. Congress.
Images for kids
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The Navy Cross medal.
See also
In Spanish: Marcus Luttrell para niños
