1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: Our conversation continues about the rescue. If you've read the 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: book and seen the movie, obviously in a matter of 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: minutes they can't capture what actually happened. You know, you've 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: alluded to a number of things, Marcus, I'd like to rewind, 5 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: and let's talk about how Gulab discovers you at the water. 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: You know, there's a scene in the movie where you 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: threaten to pull the pin. You have no belief that 8 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: this guy is going to drag you to his village 9 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: and that they're going to care for you, which they 10 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: did and save your life. Walk me through that process, 11 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: from you interacting with him, to you getting to the 12 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: village and then the eventual rescue, and how long all 13 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: this takes. 14 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 2: So the sun had come up the following day and 15 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 2: I somehow had crawled and Michael, I don't know how 16 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 2: I did this, but I managed to get to the 17 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: top of this cliff where there's a waterfall. But I 18 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: couldn't I was so thirsty. This was what was driving me. 19 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: I didn't want to die thirsty. I know that sounds absurd, 20 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 2: but when you first we'll do something completely different to 21 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 2: a man than pained and hunger. I mean I'd never 22 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 2: been that thirsty. And when I tried to reach into 23 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: the waterfall, I started sliding down the side of the mountain. 24 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: I took it kind of took off, and I flipped 25 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 2: into the river and I actually knocked myself out again, 26 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: and when I came to, I crawled into I remember 27 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 2: I crawled back up a little ways because I had 28 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 2: seen a place that looked pretty pretty inviting to drink 29 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: some water. And I got there and I probably had 30 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: two stiffs out of that waterfall before someone was screaming 31 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 2: at me. And they were screaming at me on the 32 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: ledge that I had just fallen off of, so I 33 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 2: kind of like thought that they were following me. And 34 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: then above that there was a couple of guys with 35 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: Ak's maneuvering around and I could hear him screaming and 36 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: like they were trying to track me down. So they 37 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: started hunting me. So I made a move and started 38 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: crawling down into the lake into the river and threw 39 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 2: over these rocks and stuff, and I managed to get 40 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: into this crevice into this ravine. It's hard to explain, 41 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 2: and I couldn't go anywhere. They bottledneck me and I 42 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: turned around to shoot and the guy saw me and 43 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 2: he ducked, and then I swung around on the other 44 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 2: two and they saw me, so they sat down. And 45 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 2: then right after that happened right over the ravine I 46 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: was sitting under is when Goolac came over the rocks. 47 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 2: He was kind of just sitting there and he was 48 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 2: screaming at me, and he was screaming American. He's an American. American. 49 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 2: And I thought about this in a minuteent. So they thought 50 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 2: I was the Taliban. They were trying to hunt me 51 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: down and kill me because they thought I was the enemy. 52 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: But in reality, when they found out, when they got 53 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 2: it close enough, they realized I was an American. So 54 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 2: that's what he was telling him. Don't shoot He's an American. 55 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 2: And I kind of wasn't putting that together. I turned 56 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 2: around to engage to shoot him, and he put his 57 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 2: hands up and he was saying, okay, okay, it's okay. 58 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 2: And I don't know why I didn't kill him. I 59 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 2: don't know why I didn't kill this guy. My got 60 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 2: I mean, I have my faith. 61 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: Ye, what weapon did you have left at that point? 62 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: I had my rifle, that's the only you still had 63 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 2: your rifle. Okay, I still had him. I couldn't throw 64 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: that thing away. I mean it would leave my body 65 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: and slide down the mountain or flip off of me, 66 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: and I tore my lanyard, but I would always manage 67 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 2: to get God was like, hey, you know you need that. 68 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: So when I turned around. 69 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: Go ahead, go ahead, I'm sorry, no, no, you go ahead. 70 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: Well, he finally walked up on me and I lowered 71 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 2: my weapon and he was he was like okay, okay, okay, okay, 72 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 2: and he's like, shampoo hydrate is what he's saying to me. 73 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: Shampoo hydrate. I'll never forget that. I was like, I 74 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 2: mean that sounds really good. But I was like, I 75 00:03:59,240 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: need some water. 76 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: So why do you think you didn't kill him? What 77 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: did you know about him that he wasn't out to 78 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: do you harm? 79 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: I don't know a look on his face. He just 80 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 2: had this look on his face like he didn't want 81 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 2: to like he wasn't there to hurt me. You can tell. 82 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 2: And once you're out there long enough and you hunt hunt, 83 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 2: you know, we fight these guys long enough, you can tell. 84 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 2: Even when we capture them and have them with us, 85 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 2: they would still look at you like they want to 86 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 2: kill you. And once you see that, you'll never forget it. 87 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 2: You can anticipate what a man's thinking just by the 88 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 2: look on his face and with in his eyes. His 89 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 2: eyes tell a lot. And then these kids started coming 90 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 2: out from behind him. Two and then some more adults 91 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: started walking up, and I lowered my weapon, and I 92 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: had a grenade with me, and I pulled that thing 93 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:47,840 Speaker 2: and I pulled the pin. I kind of put it 94 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 2: down by my hip, and then they brought me some water, 95 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: so I started drinking that, and they started looking at 96 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: my wounds and like patching me up. And then they 97 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: picked me up and carried me down into the village. 98 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: They sat me down, they gave me more water, and 99 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 2: then they picked me up and carried me into this 100 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: room and they stripped me neked and there wasn't much 101 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: left in my uniform anyway, and they dockered me up, 102 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 2: cleaned all my wounds, and then dressed me up instead 103 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: of Man Jamie's. That was almost the first day. 104 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: And what was hurting the worst at that point. 105 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: Well, I had a lot of facial damage, and then 106 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 2: I'd broken my right hand. My thumb had been separated 107 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: from the from the where it was supposed to be. 108 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 2: I couldn't feel my lower extremities. It was weird. I 109 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 2: busted my back up real bad and I've been shot 110 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 2: in the button had fragged hanging out of my legs, 111 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 2: but I couldn't really feel that because I didn't know 112 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 2: it was kind of paralyzed. Was it was a blessing and. 113 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: A curse that are you at that moment do you 114 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: think you're going to die? You're just fighting on for 115 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: some crazy reason, but do you are you certain you're 116 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: going to die? Or do you them out of hope? 117 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 2: No, that would only cross my mind when I was 118 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 2: in a gunfight, and then even then on the first 119 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: day for sure. But the second day I just kind 120 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 2: of got it in my head that I was getting 121 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: out of there. I wasn't gonna I wasn't gonna lay down, 122 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 2: and I was gonna. Like the way our training goes 123 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 2: and everything that kicks in, a lot of people they 124 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 2: can't anticipate that, like what do you do when this happens? 125 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: And what do you think when this happens? Doesn't trust 126 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: me it kicks in, and I just kept that. I 127 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 2: Ultimately I did change the diplomacy. I mean I kind 128 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 2: of changed my attitude a little bit just because they 129 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: were helping me, and I wanted them to know that 130 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 2: I appreciated all that. So I you know, I was 131 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: on my manners and I was real polite. I did 132 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 2: everything I could. I started throughout the week I started 133 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 2: doctor and their kids like they would bring their kids 134 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 2: to me. I never told them I was a steal 135 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: I told him I was a doctor. Okay, I'm I'm 136 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 2: not a steal on a doctor. And I don't know 137 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 2: if they bought that or not, but you do have it. 138 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 2: I did, and I did, and that helped me because 139 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 2: when I would work on them, Uh, in the beginning, 140 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 2: I didn't know if it was working or not, but 141 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 2: they kept bringing me people, so it worked in my advantage. 142 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: And then they were calling me doctor Marcus. That weren't doctors. 143 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 2: Universal talk to me. 144 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: About the original the core for guys, Danny, Axe, Murph 145 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: and you. Why was each one of you chosen? What 146 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: was your role within the group, What were your skill sets? 147 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 2: Danny was our communicator. He could work the radios real well. 148 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 2: We weren't on the same delivery team, but he was 149 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 2: East coast. I was West coast. But it doesn't matter. 150 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 2: When we throw us together, we worked well together. I'd 151 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,239 Speaker 2: known Danny since we were in pre training, so we've 152 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: been buddies for a while. Acts as our primary sniper 153 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: and our point man, it was his job to get 154 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 2: us in and out of the and then he was 155 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 2: obviously had the overwatch with the sniper rifle. Michael was 156 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 2: our lieutenant. He was our officer in charge, so he 157 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 2: was overall command and control. And then I was also 158 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 2: the medic and rear security. And then I was the 159 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 2: LPO of the platoons, so I was running it and 160 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 2: then that was our team. That's how we were set up. 161 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 2: Recon teams are really small, usually four to six men. 162 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: And are there are there particular skill sets that that 163 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: brought you all together? I mean, you know, of all 164 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: the guys that could have been chosen, how were you 165 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: four guys chosen? They had to have a strategy behind that, 166 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: I'm assuming. 167 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, it was the qualifications that we have through 168 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 2: in the steal teams you get you get to go 169 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 2: to multiple schools, so me being the medic, and then 170 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 2: I was also a sniper, and I was also a 171 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 2: calm guy, and then I was also a j tech 172 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 2: which means I could talk to the planes and drop bombs, 173 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 2: so that that was really useful in that environment. And 174 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 2: then acts being a sniper appoint Man Danny with the 175 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 2: with the comms and the communication, and so we it's 176 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 2: kind of like redundancy. So if one of us gets 177 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 2: hurt or goes down, the other guy can step up 178 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 2: and do his job. And we had just trained up together. 179 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 2: It was our primary mission set, so they utilized us 180 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: in that capacity. 181 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: When this was over and you came home, you convert 182 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: your diary to what becomes a book. You go back 183 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: to Iraq. And the first time I ever talked to 184 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: you about this, which is well over ten years ago, 185 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: the thing that really just wrenched my gut was that 186 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 1: you committed to go and talk to Patsy, to go 187 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: and talk to the families about what had happened. You 188 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: wanted them when did that happen and how did that 189 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: go down? 190 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 2: I'd gotten back. It happened pretty quick, and I was 191 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 2: sitting I was in the hospital for a while, and 192 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 2: then the rest of my platoon came back from Iraq, 193 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 2: and then they had a little like a week or 194 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 2: two of downtime, and then the command actually facilitated that movement. 195 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 2: They lined out where we were going, when we were going, 196 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 2: and how we were going to get there. So they 197 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 2: flew us back to the States. We were in Hawaii, 198 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 2: they flew us back into the States and we started 199 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: and we went from family, each FAMI member and told 200 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 2: them what happened face I told him face to face 201 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:23,719 Speaker 2: that I want they needed to hear it from the 202 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 2: command wanted that to make sure because there was all 203 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 2: kinds of stories going around. There's about what had happened, 204 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 2: how it went down. I mean still to this day, 205 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 2: but they know the real story. 206 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: How hard was that to do? 207 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 2: That was rough? That was rough. Just yeah, it's just tough. 208 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 2: Like our CaCO officers, the officers that are actually in 209 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 2: charge of go around and tell the families that his 210 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,119 Speaker 2: son's been injured or he's dead. I mean, I don't 211 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 2: that's got to be probably the hardest job in the military. 212 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 2: So I really wasn't trained for that. And I you know, 213 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 2: I love I love those guys. So when their family 214 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: I understand, Look, if I if I could lose, if 215 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 2: I had to lose everything I had right now, just 216 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 2: to bring all of them back to their family members, 217 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,679 Speaker 2: to have them. I would that may sound mean or crazy, 218 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 2: but I because they're great people and their sons are 219 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 2: great men, and I that was that's hard than combat. 220 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,959 Speaker 2: But the families have always been great to me. They're 221 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 2: they're they're good to me. They've watched out for me. 222 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: They never, you know, never try to tear me down. 223 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 2: So I that was a blessing to me. 224 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: You know, the book and then the movie and your 225 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: story and you as as the front man for all 226 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: of this has to have been the greatest boon to recruiting. 227 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: Before Donald Trump was president in Central War two, I 228 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: would imagine there were a lot of young Marcus Latrell 229 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 1: wannabes who said, I want to do what that guy 230 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: has done. Has the Navy ever told you that, yes, sir, 231 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: all the time. 232 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 2: That's why I carry myself the way I do. I 233 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,679 Speaker 2: realized that the opportunity and the position that I was 234 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 2: put in is God. God has a plan for everything. 235 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 2: I had no idea I was going to be doing this. 236 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 2: But it may have been twenty years, but I think 237 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 2: about it every day. For the minute I wake up, 238 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 2: the minute I go down. I'm constantly trying to better myself, 239 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: collect wisdom, sharpen my discipline, sharp with my manners and 240 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 2: everything that I do since I am an example. Once 241 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: they put that cross on me, that changed my life forever. 242 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 2: Seals are usually kind of in the shadows, but I was. 243 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 2: I was brought out, you know, kind of into the 244 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 2: light in front of everybody, and I had extensive training 245 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 2: from the military. I'm still with them. I mean, they've 246 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 2: been watching out for me forever and they still do. 247 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 2: And I you know, thank you doesn't really do it. 248 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 2: It works on almost everything else in there. I don't 249 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 2: have any words to describe how how much it means 250 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:11,959 Speaker 2: to me and how thankful I am, not only for 251 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 2: the military, but for our people, like the American people 252 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 2: and especially Texas. I mean, you've been around me for 253 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,839 Speaker 2: a long time, you see it. One of the reasons 254 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 2: I'm going public. Man, it's it's so overwhelming how nice 255 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 2: people are to me and what they do for me 256 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 2: and I and it only it keeps getting stronger. That 257 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 2: hasn't faded away. So uh. And I'm trying to be 258 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 2: a good father and raise my kids. But then and 259 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 2: turn that around. The one thing I preached them is 260 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 2: how great our people are. Hey, Look, that's why I'm 261 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 2: so hard on them. I was like, when you walk 262 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 2: out in public and you run across one of our people, man, 263 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 2: you better show some respect because of what they They 264 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: saved my life. Y'all saved my life. Y'all brought me 265 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 2: back and gave me everything I got. So I never 266 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 2: anticipated that. I didn't grow up to expect that. It 267 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 2: just kind of I got put into it, and man, 268 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 2: I'm so thankful for it. I don't even know what 269 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 2: to stay most of the time. 270 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: Marcus Latrell is our guest for those who don't know 271 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: what became of you after all of that. Talk about 272 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: your personal life, Melanie, the whole story. 273 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 2: Okay, So anybody who still runs around me and knows 274 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 2: anything knows the one thing that I got in the 275 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 2: hook of the greatest hookup I got was my wife 276 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 2: and she's absolutely, hands down the most amazing thing ever. 277 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 2: And then I have three kids. My oldest son, Hunter, 278 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: he's twenty seven, he's out of college and got a 279 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: great job freaking world traveler. Was it was a blessing 280 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 2: day to get him. And then I have Acts and 281 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 2: then Adelaide. So most of my day is spent when 282 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 2: I get up in the morning I'm really trying to 283 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 2: be a good father. I want to do that. I 284 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 2: want to be good at that so bad. I worked 285 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 2: hard at it, and I actually study it so right. 286 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 2: When I got back, I was on the road so much. 287 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: I lived out of a suitcase, wrote three hundred days 288 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 2: out of the year. And then when you bring a 289 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 2: wife and a family into the picture, it kind of 290 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 2: changes everything. So she she does a great job of 291 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 2: watching out for me every single day. She's she's such 292 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 2: a blessing to me. And then and then those kids 293 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 2: make me a better human being. They're definitely phases in 294 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 2: a man's life when he's growing up. The life that 295 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 2: I had before, being a teen guy running and gunning 296 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 2: is not conducive to being a family man out in 297 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 2: civilian world. Those two things kind of butt heads. So 298 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 2: the hardest thing I probably had to go through was 299 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 2: getting rid of that, was letting go of that old 300 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 2: being a steal, that whole ego that goes with that, 301 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 2: the bravado and everything that comes into that package. I mean, 302 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 2: I don't wear the same watches anymore, the same sunglasses, don't. 303 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 2: I try not to talk like that anymore. Matter of fact, 304 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 2: when I get around my tem you want to talk 305 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 2: about dragging me back to the old days. I get 306 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 2: so fired up when I see them that I know 307 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 2: I can't stay around very long because how much I 308 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 2: loved that life was it was my heart and my soul. 309 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 2: When I got done with that, I literally had to 310 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 2: retrain myself to be a civilian again, starting with just 311 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 2: who I was, and then trying to be a good 312 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 2: husband and what that looked like, and then a good father. 313 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 2: I you know, I get on the internet and around 314 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 2: the people that I see who are great fathers. You're 315 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 2: a good father. I mean your boys, look at them 316 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 2: and then Rick Perry all that. Just you know, I 317 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: kind of take examples of the men that are around us, 318 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 2: the pillars that are around us, and copy that, try 319 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 2: to mimic what they do and put that into my 320 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 2: routine and live it out, not year by year, but 321 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 2: kind of moment by moment and then transfer to the 322 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 2: next one. And it's it's been great. I truly love 323 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 2: it you. 324 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: I've I've been at your father in law's home when 325 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:06,640 Speaker 1: you host a lot of Navy seals, and I've described 326 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:10,880 Speaker 1: to you as the mayor of Silville. It really feels 327 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: to me and I'm a complete outsider that this experience 328 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: and all the public attention because you know the scenes 329 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 1: where y'all are training as Navy seals. People have a 330 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: lot better understanding. As you've told me, people die in 331 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: Navy seal training and are brought back to life the 332 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: difficulty of this training. 333 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 2: You know. 334 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 1: I think back to Officer and a Gentleman and that 335 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: Apocalypse now and what movies do to to really make 336 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: the public focus on these sorts of things, and I 337 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: think your case and then Chris Kyle got folks really 338 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 1: aware of the personal toll these things take and the 339 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: preparation these things take. It's not a movie, it's real life. 340 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: And I guess there's not a question there, but I 341 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: would ask for your reaction to that. 342 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 2: Sure, what we let y'all see is one thing, and 343 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 2: the behind the scenes just like watching a regular movie. 344 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 2: I mean, you see the overall finished product, but you 345 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 2: want to know what it took to make that thing, 346 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 2: and that's where we The only way you can actually 347 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: see that is to be in the community itself, and 348 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 2: it's it's the greatest fraternity that I was able to 349 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 2: be a part of being in the seal teams that's 350 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 2: why it's so hard to get out. And I was. 351 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 2: I was at the Matt Access Memorial golf tournament a 352 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 2: couple of days ago, and they had a bunch of 353 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 2: young frog seals that were there and just to see them, 354 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 2: and if I can tell them one thing, it is 355 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 2: to live that life with everything you got and then 356 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:38,360 Speaker 2: when you get out, we'll deal with that kind of deal. 357 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 2: But it truly is the greatest experience in my life. 358 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 2: And what goes into the everyday being a Navy seal 359 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 2: mentality the physical part of it, the emotional part of 360 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,360 Speaker 2: it is is something that you really can't transfer into 361 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: a book or onto a movie. It's one of those 362 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 2: things that has to be lived and seen from the inside, 363 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 2: and it creates a bond and a camaraderie that is unbreakable. 364 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 2: And you're talking about every guy from each walk of 365 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 2: life in one area that actually make it work because 366 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 2: there's a difference between being a friend to somebody and 367 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 2: actually being a teammate. And the one thing we're great 368 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 2: at is being teammates, which means you get rid of 369 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 2: all the stupid stuff that would normally upset you about 370 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 2: a human being that doesn't even come into play. A 371 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 2: matter of fact, you really don't even know a lot 372 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 2: about that. That kind of stuff, It doesn't mean anything 373 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 2: to it. You only focus on what we're supposed to 374 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,199 Speaker 2: be doing and the task at hand, and you're so 375 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 2: good at being doing that that you become a great teammate, 376 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 2: which means I don't care where you come from, how 377 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:39,719 Speaker 2: much money you have, what politicals whatever. That doesn't mean 378 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 2: anything does I mean at all. It's what we're doing 379 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 2: and just the love and the compassion you have for 380 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 2: that task, and it creates it. And when we're going 381 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 2: through it, each guy is tested. Seals are always getting 382 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 2: beat down. I mean, it's it's an absolutely, it's it's 383 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 2: a tenuous job. I mean, it's tough just to be one. 384 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 2: Becoming a seal there was one thing. Stay in one 385 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 2: is completely different. And then when you see those people, 386 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 2: those men that are willing to stay in there and 387 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 2: that fight and go through that grind day in day 388 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 2: out upwards of for years, it just changes the way 389 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 2: you look at them. And when you when you see one, 390 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 2: you kind of have this there's a respect that goes 391 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 2: along with it. And that's man. We've been doing this 392 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 2: since the sixties so it's kind of established. It. Truly 393 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 2: was a blessing to be a part of that. I 394 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 2: mean I'm missing I miss it a lot. I mean 395 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 2: I'm still very much involved with them and some capacity, 396 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 2: but the overall living in the life, I kind of 397 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,920 Speaker 2: miss that. If you're wondering if I could thought about 398 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 2: doing it, and if I could do it now, I 399 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 2: couldn't do it now. Like physically, emotionally I don't have 400 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: I've transitioned back to being a civilian. So just watching 401 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 2: them go through their their daily grind is exhausting. So 402 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 2: it's definitely a mindset. 403 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, I think that's fair to say, and I 404 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: think think you transported yourself into being something that the 405 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 1: average person can never understand him You're talking about a 406 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: killing machine and something that doesn't fear death, that those 407 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: are not natural human emotions. I would be remiss before 408 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: we finish if I didn't give you an opportunity to 409 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: do something. Several years ago, you and I were on 410 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,160 Speaker 1: the phone and a fella came walking up to you 411 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 1: and said Marcus Atrell and you said, no, I'm his twin, Morgan, 412 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,479 Speaker 1: and he goes, oh, never mind and walked off, And 413 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 1: you were infuriated because your point was, my brother's more 414 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: of a badass than I am, and you don't even 415 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 1: bother to know that and show him that respect. A 416 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 1: lot of people don't know that your brother, who's now 417 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: a congressman, and you and his experiences as a Navy seal, 418 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: tell a little bit about that if you would. 419 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 2: He had the most unbelievable career, my hero. I mean 420 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 2: that guys, he's the first one born. I was kind 421 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:03,639 Speaker 2: of fair parts. I was just what was left. And 422 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 2: when we went into the steal teams, I mean, he 423 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 2: was an honor man out of his bug class. That 424 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 2: sucker's been on multiple deployments. He was an enlisted guy, 425 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:13,159 Speaker 2: and then he was an officer. He was in a 426 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 2: helicopter crash where people died. I mean, he broke his back. 427 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 2: He was in the hospital forever. I remember. We snuck 428 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 2: him out of the hospital and he was in such 429 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,439 Speaker 2: bad shape we had to sneaking back in there. But 430 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 2: he just that kind of never quit mentality and everything 431 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 2: that goes along with it. Man, I get that from him. 432 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 2: He's got one speed and it's wide open. He's a 433 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 2: constant reminder that I'm supposed to carry myself a certain way. 434 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 2: He gets on to me about being out of shape, 435 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 2: even even when I'm not out of shape. It was ridiculous, Michael. 436 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 2: I mean some believe it still talks down to me 437 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 2: like I'm a kid. But I love him for it. 438 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 2: And he was absolutely designed for the for the seat 439 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 2: that he's holding right now, which is the craziest thing. 440 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 2: I can't believe in the congressman. But the beautiful thing 441 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 2: about that is he works for me. Now I'm a voter, 442 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 2: it's my opportunity. It's you know what I'm talking about, 443 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 2: So it's my opportunity. I can talk to him anyway 444 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 2: I want. 445 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: Now, well, we're very proud of him, and Mama Holly 446 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,200 Speaker 1: should be very proud of both of you and what 447 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: you have become in your service to this country, the 448 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,360 Speaker 1: two of you in so many different ways. I am 449 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 1: honored to call you my friend, Marcus O. 450 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 2: Trell. Thank you you been God bless happy for with 451 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 2: july