Operation Redwing

A Navy Seal Operation that occured in June 2005.

1. Operation RedwingOperation Redwing
By:By:
Erik Krueger and Max WeissErik Krueger and Max Weiss
Period 6, US History II HPeriod 6, US History II H

2. Background InfoBackground Info
•Navy SEAL operation in
Afghanistan.
•Took place on June 28
th
,
2005
•Four man group included:
Lt. Michael Murphy
Gunner’s Mate 2
nd
Class Danny Dietz
Sonar Technician 2
nd
Class Matthew
Axelson
Hospital Corpsman 2
nd
Class Marcus
Lutrell
•Main objective was to
capture/kill Taliban leader
Ahmad Shah

3. Map Of Operation RedwingMap Of Operation Redwing

4. Start of the ActionStart of the Action
•The SEALs’ hiding place was found by Afghani
goat herders.
•The SEALs voted to let the goat herders go
rather than killing them.
•Soon they were surrounded by 200 Afghani
fighters.
•Knowing the terrain was a huge advantage for
the Afghanis.
•Both groups began open firing, soon the SEALs
were in trouble.

5. Getting BackupGetting Backup
•Soon, the SEALs began
jumping down the
mountains and were forced
into a ravine.
•Murphy tried to get help by
calling for more ground and
air troops.
•Things began to look
hopeful when the
helicopters came.
•However, the Chinook
helicopter carrying 8 SEALs
and 8 Army Night Stalkers
was blown up by a rocket
propelled grenade (RPG).

6. End of Action End of Action
•After the fire fight, Lutrell was the only SEAL
alive.
•Very weak and badly injured, Lutrell began to
crawl/walk.
•Seven miles later, local villagers found him
and took him to their village.
•The locals hid him from the Taliban and
healed him until US help came.

7. ResolutionResolution
•Lutrell was eventually rescued from the
small town on July 2
nd
.
•The death toll was one of the worst in six
years for U.S. Special Forces.
•This operation was “the single largest loss
of life for Naval Special Warfare since
WWII.”

8. Lessons of Operation RedwingLessons of Operation Redwing
•The Taliban is a serious threat to the US
and the world.
•Despite having advanced technology, US
forces are at a disadvantage fighting in the
Afghan mountains.
•The US may have to change its tactics,
especially now when President Obama is
considering sending more troops to
Afghanistan to battle the Taliban.

9. Awards Awards
•Lt. Mike Murphy was
awarded the
Congressional Medal of
Honor for sacrificing
himself to get help for his
men.
•Petty Officers Danny
Dietz, Matt Axelson and
Marcus Luttrell were
awarded the Navy Cross
for their courage in battle.

10. Casualties Casualties
Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue,
N.Y.
Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class (SEAL)
Matthew G. Axelson, 29, of Cupertino, Calif.
Machinist Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Eric S. Patton,
22, of Boulder City, Nev.
Senior Chief Information Systems Technician
(SEAL) Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, N.H.
Quartermaster 2nd Class (SEAL) James Suh, 28,
of Deerfield Beach, Fla.

11. Casualties, Cont.Casualties, Cont.
Chief Fire Controlman (SEAL) Jacques J. Fontan,
36, of New Orleans, La.
Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Erik S. Kristensen, 33, of San
Diego, Calif.
Electronics Technician 1st Class (SEAL) Jeffery A.
Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Ore.
Lt. (SEAL) Michael M. McGreevy Jr., 30, of
Portville, N.Y.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SEAL) Jeffrey S.
Taylor, 30, of Midway, W.Va.

12. Casualties, Cont.Casualties, Cont.
Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio.
Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of
Clarks Grove, Minn.
Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Fla.
Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of
Shelbyville, Ind.
Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot,
Conn.

13. Casualties, Cont.Casualties, Cont.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford,
Va.
Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40,
of Jacksonville, Fla.
Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny P. Dietz,
25, of Littleton, Colo.
Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin,
Tenn.

14. SourcesSources
•1)
http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/soa.ht
ml
•2)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl
d/article542369.ece