Ben Sharmak (an alias that Marcus Luttrell uses throughout the book for legal purposes) is a highly dangerous Taliban leader whose capture or assassination is the goal of Operation Redwing. Over the course of the book, Luttrell describes Sharmak as a highly intelligent, crafty opponent for the American military, who uses his military training and ruthlessness to murder not only American soldiers, but also defenseless Afghan families.
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Ben Sharmak Character Timeline in Lone Survivor
The timeline below shows where the character Ben Sharmak appears in Lone Survivor. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 6
...also responsible for assembling lists of suspected Taliban terrorists. One prime suspect is named Ben Sharmak (for security reasons, Luttrell will use this invented name). Sharmak is believed to command over...
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...the SEALs, known as Operation Redwing, which revolves around the capture or killing of Ben Sharmak. Luttrell relishes the thought of putting a bullet through the head of this dangerous enemy...
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...finds Danny “a little reserved.” The team’s assignment is to stake out the place where Sharmak is believed to live and wait for a clear shot. But later—literally while the SEALs...
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On June 27, 2005, military intelligence locates Sharmak again, meaning Operation Redwing is a go. The community in which Sharmak is believed to...
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Chapter 7
...pose a “clear and present danger?” Letting the goatherds go would be suicidal: inevitably, Ben Sharmak’s men would find out from the goatherds about the SEALs, and then the SEALs would...
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...the way the Taliban move that they’ve been trained in tactical maneuvers, probably by Ben Sharmak.
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...they can find a safe house, they should be able to fight any army Ben Sharmak sends.
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Chapter 8
...The recovery mission flies out to find the SEALs. As the SEALs’ helicopter approaches Ben Sharmak’s base, however, the Taliban soldiers fire on it. A rocket-propelled grenade hits the helicopter, killing...
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Chapter 11
...and—he admits later—ungrateful to Gulab for looking out for his safety. He realizes that Ben Sharmak is still waiting to kill him—doing so would be a huge victory for the Taliban.
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...two men approach the Hindu Kush, Luttrell looks up and sees none other than Ben Sharmak, “the man I had come to capture or kill,” surrounded by soldiers. Luttrell recognizes Sharmak...
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While the men hold their fire, Gulab and Sharmak speak in private. Luttrell knows they’re talking about him. This is a standoff between two...
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Chapter 12
After five minutes, Gulab and Ben Sharmak return from their conversation, and Sharmak walks away to rejoin his forces. Gulab and Luttrell...
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...Luttrell. Luttrell tries to debrief the Rangers as quickly as possible on the danger: Ben Sharmak is nearby, accompanied by a large Taliban army. The captain says he confident he has...
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