what is operation red wings

Operation Red Wings was a joint military operation conducted by the United States in the Pech District of Kunar Province, Afghanistan, from late-June to mid-July 2005. It was carried out on the slopes of a mountain named Sawtalo Sar, situated approximately 20 miles west of the provincial capital of Asadabad. The operation was conceived by the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines (2/3) of the U.S. Marine Corps and utilized special operations forces (SOF) units and assets, including members of the U.S. Navy SEALs and the U.S. Army Night Stalkers. The SEAL team involved in Operation Red Wings was compromised when the SEAL team, led by Murphy, was spotted by locals who presumably reported its presence and location to the Taliban. The terrorist group set out to find the SEAL team and made contact. The men of Operation Red Wings continued to fight, but by the end of the hours-long gunfight over the rough terrain, Murphy, Axelson, and Dietz were killed, but an estimated 35 Taliban were also dead, according to the U.S. Navy. Luttrell, the only surviving member of Operation Red Wings, was badly injured but managed to escape. The operation serves as a somber reminder of the immense courage and dedication of the elite warriors in the U.S. military. The Operation Red Wings Foundations mission is to provide veterans and their families with a path to healing from their invisible wounds.