Honoring the Heroes of Operation Red Wings
Navy file photo of Navy SEALs operating in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From left to right, sonar technician (surface) Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson, of Cupertino, Calif.; Senior Chief information systems technician Daniel R. Healy, of Exeter, N.H.; quartermaster Petty Officer 2nd Class James Suh, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; hospital corpsman Petty Officer 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell; machinist’s mate Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric S. Patton, of Boulder City, Nev.; and Lt. Michael P. Murphy, of Patchogue, N.Y. With the exception of Luttrell, all were killed 28 June 2005, by enemy forces while supporting Operation Red Wing. Photo available from DVIDS.
In the summer of 2005, in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan, a mission known as Operation Red Wings took place. It’s a story of valor in the face of overwhelming odds and a stark reminder of the heavy price our service members sometimes pay.
It was 28 June 2005. A four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team, led by Lieutenant (LT) Michael P. Murphy, was tasked with tracking down a key Taliban leader in the Hindu Kush mountains. But the mission went awry when local goat herders stumbled upon their position and alerted nearby Taliban fighters.
In the fierce firefight that followed, the SEALs were outnumbered and outgunned. Despite the odds, they fought with and for each other and never gave up, exemplifying the SEAL ethos. LT Murphy, wounded, deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire to transmit a call for help, sacrificing his life to save his team.
A quick reaction force (QRF) was dispatched, including two MH-47 Chinook helicopters loaded with SEALs and flown by Army Night Stalkers from the 160th SOAR. But as they approached the landing zone, one of the helicopters, Red Wings 11, was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, sending it crashing to the ground and killing all 16 men on board.
In that moment, Operation Red Wings became the single largest loss of life for Naval Special Warfare since World War II. In total, 19 special operations forces perished: three of the four SEALs on the ground and 16 more in the downed helicopter. An Army combat rescue team also lost a member in the recovery operations. Only one SEAL, Marcus Luttrell, survived.
The names of the men who lost their lives during Operation Red Wings are:
Matthew G. Axelson, Petty Officer 2nd Class E-5, U.S. Navy
Danny P. Dietz, Petty Officer Second Class E-5, U.S. Navy
Jacques J. Fontan, Chief Petty Officer E-7, U.S. Navy
Shamus O. Goare, Staff Sergeant E-6, U.S. Army
Corey J. Goodnature, Chief Warrant Officer 3 CW3, U.S. Army
Daniel R. Healy, Senior Chief Petty Officer E-8, U.S. Navy
Kip A. Jacoby, Sergeant E-5, U.S. Army
Erik S. Kristensen, Lieutenant Commander O-4, U.S. Navy
Jeffrey A. Lucas, Petty Officer 1st Class E-6, U.S. Navy
Michael M. McGreevy, Lieutenant O-3, U.S. Navy
Marcus V. Muralles, Sergeant First Class E-7, U.S. Army
Michael P. Murphy, Lieutenant O-3, U.S. Navy
Shane E. Patton, Petty Officer 2nd Class E-5, U.S. Navy
James W. Ponder, Master Sergeant E-8, U.S. Army
Stephen C. Reich, Major O-4, U.S. Army
Michael L. Russell, Sergeant First Class E-7, U.S. Army
Chris J. Scherkenbach, Chief Warrant Officer 4 CW4, U.S. Army
James E. Suh, Petty Officer 2nd Class E-5, U.S. Navy
Jeffrey S. Taylor, Petty Officer 1st Class E-6, U.S. Navy
LT Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his selfless actions. Two of his teammates, SO2 Danny Dietz and SO2 Matthew Axelson, received the Navy Cross. All 11 SEALs and 8 Army Night Stalkers were awarded Bronze Stars for Valor.
These men embodied “service before self” and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood. Their legacy lives on, not just in the hearts of their loved ones, but in the very fabric of our nation. They remind us that freedom isn't free, that it's purchased at a high cost, and that it must be continually defended by men and women of exceptional courage and character.
So as we take on the Operation Red Wings AMRAP, let’s celebrate the triumph of the human spirit. Let’s honor the fallen by living our lives with purpose and passion. And let us never forget the sacrifices made by those who stand on the front lines, protecting our way of life.
To the men of Operation Red Wings: We salute you. We thank you. We honor you. Rest easy, brothers.
