Red Wings Research Paper

Words: 731
Pages: 3

When a man goes against the wishes of the local Taliban leaders to uphold his tribes ancient tradition, that man shows great honor. In the summer of 2005 operation Red Wings was in full effect, in the mountains of Kunar Province, Afghanistan. A team of four Navy Seals were tasked with reconnaissance and to attempt the elimination of a high Taliban officer, Ahmad Shah. Just hours after inserting they fell into an ambush, in which three of the four Navy Seals were killed. With a broken back and numerous shrapnel wounds. While hiding he was found by a local which brought him back to his village and sent a man to the American FOB (forward operating base). Within days of Marcus being brought into the village, the Taliban threaten to kill every person in the village that had helped the Navy Seal. Mohammad Gulab risked his own life and the life of the …show more content…
Pashtunwali is a non written code that states that you should have compassion, tolerance, justice, and hospitality to all people especially visitors to your land. Gulab even extended this tradition of Pashtunwali to the Green Beret and the PJ (para-jumpers) that came to rescue Marcus from the village. When they came to rescue him Gulab insisted that his village would set up a perimeter, even though they declined the offer the thought was still there. Since the tribe had no phones or way of modern communication they sent one of the elders to tell the Americans were he was. “He was given shelter by an Afghan tribe, who alerted the Americans of his presence, and American forces finally rescued him six days after the gun battle.” Said Marcus Luttrell on his website. That man had to work several miles to the FOB with a handwritten note from Marcus. Even though the Taliban said that they would kill everyone and burn down the village if they did not hand him over, the help in spite of the every current