What do a veteran Navy SEAL, a women’s professional golfer, and the Afghani village of Sabray have in common? True American spirit.
The story begins in 2005, when the US military dropped Marcus Luttrell and three other Navy SEALs into the mountains of Afghanistan during Operation Redwings.
Operation Redwings’ mission was to gather intelligence concerning a Taliban leader tied to Osama bin Laden. Soon after the drop, the team’s position was revealed to the Taliban by several goat herders. A large Taliban force ambushed the four-man team on a remote ridge, and Luttrell and his teammates valiantly fought for hours, displaying characteristic SEAL determination and bravery, refusing to retreat from the fight despite being heavily outnumbered.
By the end of the hours-long battle, Luttrell had watched all three friends die, and had been literally blown off the side of the mountain by an enemy RPG. The Taliban had also shot down a rescue helicopter sent for the squad. Between Luttrell’s SEALs and the 16 Special Operation soldiers aboard the helicopter, Operation Redwings became single largest loss of life in one day in SEALs history.
His face shredded, nose broken, rotator cuff torn, three vertebrae cracked, his body riddled with shrapnel and unable to stand, Luttrell began to crawl through mountains in search of shelter. Help arrived by way of the Afghan villagers of Sabray. They took Luttrell in, cleaned up his wounds and, honoring their tribe’s custom, protected him from the Taliban at the risk of their own lives. As the Taliban circled the village and the threats intensified, the village elder sought help from the nearest Marine outpost.
Five nights after the nightmare began, Luttrell was rescued. Like Luttrell’s fallen brothers, the villagers expected nothing in return, but acted solely for their love of America.
The Lone Survivor Foundation
Over the last seven years Luttrell has not forgotten the other heroes of Operation Redwings. Instead, the war veteran organized “The Lone Survivor Foundation,” aimed at giving back to all warriors of the American spirit, born here and in Sabray.
His foundation’s events raise money to help US veterans recover from the many battle scars of combat. Part of the money also supports the poor people of Sabray. But Luttrell’s work has provided another unexpected gift to the American people: he has given each of us a chance to serve.
Supporting American Spirit
Not everybody can be a Navy SEAL, but now everybody can support one. Especially us Houstonians. This November, Luttrell and the Texas non-profit The Boot Campaign will hold the Houston Boot Run.
Not only is everybody welcome to cross over the finish line, everybody is welcome to help with the event. Already many American civilians have given their time and energy to this event and served this cause. Take Shannon Fish, for example.
Shannon, like most of us, isn’t an elite soldier or an Afghani villager. In a way, she’s at the other end of the professional spectrum. Shannon is a professional golfer. But that doesn’t stop her from serving our country, our veterans, and our spirit. Instead, Shannon is serving her country’s veterans by fundraising for The Houston Boot Run.
Shannon has collected almost a quarter of her $5000 fundraising goal, and Generator Power Systems is proud to contribute to this goal. We see our contribution as part of our own chance to serve our country, our veterans, and our spirit.
Service to our country can take many forms, and every kind counts. So please, serve your country this November. Run, help, or give. As you can see, any American, from a Navy SEAL, to a foreign villager, to a professional golfer, has the chance to serve our country, and it’s our service that keeps the American dream alive.
