The Naval Special Warfare community marked the 7th anniversary of Operation Red Wings, through a ceremony held at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.

The event remembered and honored the Sailors and soldiers – 11 Navy SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers – who were killed in a mission in Afghanistan.

The ceremony was held on Thursday, June 29, at the Naval Special Warfare headquarters building, in front of a tree and plaque dedicated to the fallen service members of Operation Red Wings who were killed in Afghanistan in 2005.

Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus, commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command, said: “To the friends and family they left behind, Naval Special Warfare remains committed to your health and well being, it is our obligation to our teammates, we cannot let them down and we will always remember and they will always be with us.”

Operation Red Wings was a joint military operation in the Pech District of the Kunar Province in Afghanistan. Its primary goal was to disrupt the Anti-Coalition Militia (ACM) activity in the region at the time.

A team of four Navy SEALs, who was on a surveillance and reconnaissance mission, was ambushed mere hours after insertion. Three of the four Navy SEALs were killed, and a helicopter carrying 8 Navy SEALs and 8 Army Night Stalkers, which was sent in to aid the initial four-man team, was subsequently shot down, killing everyone on board. The only survivor of the mission was Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Marcus Luttrell, who wrote about his experience in the book The Lone Survivor.

This year’s commemoration included the placing of a wreath and bouquet at the memorial by family members of three of the fallen Navy SEALs.