Four Texans in the Oval Office: The president with my mom and dad and me. “Gosh,” said President Bush, “it’s great to start the day with Texans.” Courtesy of the White House

I’ve taken it to the limit for my country on the battlefield, and I was honored to do it. Right here I’m still shoulder to shoulder with my commander in chief. White House photo by Eric Draper

The proudest moment of my life. My commander in chief pins the Navy Cross on my uniform, right below my SEAL Trident, in the Oval Office, July 18, 2006. White House photo by Eric Draper

About the Authors

Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell was raised on his parents’ horse ranch in Texas. He joined the United States Navy in March 1999, was awarded his Trident as a combat-trained Navy SEAL in January 2002, and joined SEAL Team 5 in Baghdad in April 2003. In the spring of 2005 he was deployed to Afghanistan. He was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism in 2003 by President Bush.

Patrick Robinson is known for his bestselling U.S. Navy–based novels, most notably, Nimitz Class, Kilo-Class, and Seawolf. His autobiography of Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward, One Hundred Days, was an international bestseller. He lives in England but spends his summers on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he and Marcus Luttrell wrote Lone Survivor.