To the Editor,

Nowhere in the pages of modern American newspapers do I read these kinds of stories of bravery and soul searching idealism, as are found in the new book Lone Survivor. It's written by Marcus Luttrell, a Navy Seal who survived a terrible firefight in Afghanistan, and co-authored by Patrick Robinson. The book reveals how Seals are trained to an incredible discipline of mind and body. It's a brilliant story, and flows unerringly through the rocky terrain of Afghanistan, and the sandy beaches of Coronado in San Diego. These men learn to trust their own determination, and not give in to fear and exhaustion. They also manage to conquer a moral quandary, that the far left accuses the military of not even seeing. How can you see it yourself, if you won't hear the truth from one who has lived it?

In pivotal battle scenes, Marcus felt the hand of God kept his rifle near him, after several miraculous slides for life. These men got shot, and just kept fighting, killing Taliban left and right. I believe they almost got Bin Laden, who else would have been in the most remote of locations with 200 fighters on hand? Why else push a bad position with no cover for snipers? The firefighter's patch on a buddy's sleeve tells it all.

The story involves the four Seals' decision not to kill three goatherds who had stumbled on their position. Would the U.S. and world media crucify the Americans if they shot unarmed men? Certainly the men would tell the Taliban their location? Up to 200 armed Taliban warriors were camped nearby, and would surely overwhelm the team. The group agonized, and ultimately left it up to Marcus Luttrell to make this decision -- a momentous, enormously difficult decision. He listened to his inner voice, and said let them go. Sure enough, hours later, warriors rained down upon them.

It's a magnificent fight, and Marcus lived to tell the tale for a reason I believe. He also made that decision based on his Christian ethics, and in my opinion saved the souls of his three comrades who died that day. I believe they all felt they were going to die as they set off on this mission, and this moment was crucial in what the outcome would be. I also personally believe they would've faced a much worse fate in the afterlife, had they killed the men.

Every adult in America should read this book. The powerful forces it describes are currently shaping our world. Iraq and Afghanistan are the center of our war on terror. For military fighters, they don't swear much, he's cleaned it up except for some battle dialogue. You have to accurately report last words. They're funny!

Navy Seal training is brutal, but these men lived the way they trained. If it was at all possible to still move and fight, they did! Shot to pieces, they loaded their weapons again and kept picking off fighters. I'm amazingly proud of these Americans.

Just as Horatio survives in Hamlet to tell that tale of treachery, betrayal and redemption, Marcus drags himself down the mountain to find sanctuary from a Pashtun tribe, and lives to tell these tales of remarkable heroism and self sacrifice.

Now I'd like to offer an open letter to Marcus Luttrell, to address his survivor's guilt, and the burden he bore of making that fateful decision.

Lone Survivor, an open letter to Marcus Luttrell.

I feel I've come to know you through the story you've shared in your book. The hand of God was with you on that mountain, absolutely. The Hindu Kush is in need of God, and you were there that day to listen, and allow him to act through you.

You saved your friends' souls that day. Consider that you were all destined to die on this mission, but the way it turned out, the decision fell to you, and you were listening to God the hardest of the group.

You saw the hand of God in how close your rifle was to you after that incredible slide for life. I see that it was also there to help you save your own souls, and live to tell the tale. It doesn't hurt to have an incredible battle story to share, and you mowed down numerous Taliban fighters in an open, skilled way.

If they moved, you shot 'em. That is what you were meant to be and do Marcus, from the moment you scored honors in marksmanship. This fight was God's plan, and you were only part of it. The responsibility for the group's moral dilemma fell to you for a reason. Any one of the others might have over-ruled you, but they didn't.

You faced the lion's den, and won. Mikey, Axe and Danny would have suffered far more I believe, if they had left this world with troubled souls.

I understand that it was awful for you, and brutally painful. I write this hoping to alleviate what remains of your emotional pain -- the kind no medic can cure unless he listens with his heart. That's just what you did Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell.

Living to tell the tale was part of this plan as well. A burden, to be sure, but you've done it, and I am amazingly proud of all the Americans portrayed in your story.

May God bless the rest of your life, and let it get a little easier.

Sincerely,
Carolyn Reyno
Springfield, VA

Are you for real? three KIA's??? that's ok with you? who used the term "Goatherds"? is that you? there's no way i would have just let those people go...are you in your right mind? ole Marcus should get one to 15 for manslaughter. hey..Jesus was not out there on that mission.get it?