[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7784-7785]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TEXAS FROG FREEDOM FIGHTER--MARCUS LUTTRELL

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2011

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Navy SEALs are the United States 
Navy's elite warriors. And last week we learned that they killed the 
most wanted terrorist of all, Osama bin Laden. Osama bin Laden was the 
mastermind behind the murders of nearly 3,000 Americans on September 
11, 2001. The news of his death brings some comfort to the families of 
thousands of people who died in the 9/11 attacks and to the families of 
those who have died in the war on terror. During their recent mission, 
these SEALs proved that when the peace of our great Nation is 
threatened, we will stand up and fight.
  Throughout the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, many other 
SEALs have performed equally heroic deeds. All Navy SEALs are elite 
commandos demonstrating the epitome of what we have in this country. 
One such example is local SEAL patriot, Marcus Luttrell, who I am proud 
to recognize and honor for his contributions to the global war on 
terrorism.
  June 28, 2005 is a date the SEALs will forever remember. It was the 
worst single-day U.S. forces death toll since Operation Enduring 
Freedom began and it was the single largest loss of life in Navy SEAL 
history since World War II. Marcus Luttrell, a sixth generation country 
boy from Texas, survived to tell the incredible, harrowing events of 
that day. He is an amazing Texas patriot and ``lone survivor'' of a 
horrific gun battle that occurred in the mountains of Afghanistan. On 
this fateful day, three of Luttrell's friends from SEAL Team TEN, along 
with 16 Special Forces warriors were killed.
  Luttrell was born in Huntsville, Texas in 1975. As a teen growing up 
in Willis, Texas, he began training at a young age for the SEALs, with 
a former Green Beret and neighbor, Billy Shelton. Luttrell and his twin 
brother, Morgan, also a Navy SEAL, trained every day using Shelton's 
harsh techniques and methods. He taught them to be tough. In addition, 
Luttrell's dad, a Vietnam veteran, taught his sons about weapons, 
survival, and swimming. Beau Walsh, Willis High School teacher and 
former Navy SEAL, prepared them on what to expect in SEAL training. 
During these years, the Luttrell brothers excelled physically and 
mentally.
  After graduating from Willis High School, Luttrell enrolled at Sam 
Houston University, but left before graduating because of his desire to 
serve his country. With faith in God and country, at 23 years old 
Marcus Luttrell joined the United States Navy. He began Basic 
Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training with Class 226 in Coronado, 
California. In 2002, he graduated with Class 228 and became a member of 
the small, elite military force known as the Navy SEALs. He deployed to 
Afghanistan in the spring of 2005.
  On June 28, 2005, he and three members of SEAL Team TEN were assigned 
to a covert mission, Operation Red Wing, in the mountainous region of 
Afghanistan. They were sent in to kill or capture Ahmad Shah, a 
notorious Taliban leader with ties to Osama bin Laden. The four-man 
team was made up of Marcus Luttrell, Lt. Michael Murphy, Gunner's Mate 
2d Class Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician 2d Class Matthew Axelson.
  Shortly into their mission, SEAL Team TEN encountered a small group 
of unarmed Afghan goat-herders. Although they believed the goat-herders 
empathized with the Taliban, the team was unable to confirm any threat. 
Lt. Murphy sought input concerning the goat-herders fate from the team 
but ultimately made the call to release the herders.
  Barely an hour later, the SEALs were ambushed. They came under heavy 
attack by Taliban insurgents and were easily outnumbered one to twenty-
five. The enemy completely encircled them on that desolate cliff. There 
was one way in and one way out. Despite being wounded, Lt. Michael 
Murphy left protective cover and stood on a boulder to get a signal to 
place a phone call back to the base. Under intense fire, Murphy told 
the base he needed help, provided them with the SEALs location, and 
relayed the number of Taliban fighters. While he was calling for 
support, he was shot in the back, but he completed the rescue call 
while continuing to fire at the enemy. In the midst of chaos, he 
remained calm and risked his own life to save his team.
  Murphy then returned to the safety of the mountain rocks and to his 
team to continue the fire fight. Ferociously engaged in a two-hour gun 
battle and running low on ammunition Murphy, Dietz, and Axelson were 
killed. In the midst of this battle, a MH-47 Chinook helicopter 
carrying 16 Special Forces crew, including 8 SEALs, were sent to 
evacuate them. The helicopter was assaulted and shot down with a 
rocket-propelled grenade fire. All 16 warriors were killed trying to 
rescue SEAL Team TEN.
  These SEALs fought with courage and heroism of entire legions of 
warriors when attacked by a cowardly, fanatical enemy. These brave Navy 
SEALs gave the ultimate sacrifice. These SEALs are true patriots. Dietz 
and Axelson received the Navy Cross posthumously. Lt. Michael Murphy 
was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions and his 
valor on the battlefield.
  Luttrell was the sole survivor. He was blasted over a cliff by an RPG 
and knocked unconscious. Severely wounded and presumed dead, he managed 
to crawl seven miles before he reached a tribal village. They gave him 
shelter, aid and granted him protection under lokhay warkawal, Afghan 
code that guarantees safety and protection at all costs for a wounded 
traveler. Luttrell was rescued by the Green Beret six days after the 
gun fight.
  In 2006, he was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism for his 
actions during Operation Red Wing by President George W. Bush. Luttrell 
remained in the Navy until 2007. In 2009 he was medically retired from 
the Navy. I cannot say enough about this great man, this American 
patriot. He is a heroic representative of the State of Texas and an 
honorable defender of liberty and freedom.
  Our young people who go to the valley of the gun and the desert of 
the sun are relentless, remarkable characters. They go where others 
fear to tread and where the faint-hearted are not found. These Navy 
SEAL warriors represent the best of our Nation. The bravery, dedication 
and patriotism of Luttrell, Murphy, Dietz and Axelson will not be 
forgotten by their friends, their family and freedom-loving people 
throughout the world. God bless these sons of America.
  And that's just the way it is.

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