Petty Officer Danny Dietz Character Analysis in Lone Survivor

Danny Dietz, who Marcus Luttrell describes as a calm, competent, but somewhat reserved man, is one of the four Navy SEALs involved in Operation Redwing. He fights bravely alongside his fellow SEALs, but dies in the “Battle of Murphy’s Ridge,” in which the SEALs fight off dozens of Taliban soldiers. Dietz’s character is somewhat difficult to understand, and he’s often depicted as passive—for example, when the SEALs are trying to decide whether to kill the Afghan goatherds or not, Danny refuses to offer an opinion. Nevertheless, Luttrell stresses Danny’s bravery and talent.

Petty Officer Danny Dietz Character Timeline in Lone Survivor

The timeline below shows where the character Petty Officer Danny Dietz appears in Lone Survivor. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...friend, and one of the bravest people Luttrell ever knew. Two of Luttrell’s other friends, Danny and Axe, died that same summer. Luttrell is writing this memoir in honor of Danny,... (full context)

Bigotry and America’s Enemies Theme Icon

...to their assignment. The biggest change is that Patton will be replaced by Petty Officer Danny Dietz, a close friend of Patton. Luttrell is glad to have Danny on the team,... (full context)

...other SEALs prepare for their mission. As they board the helicopter, Luttrell, Mikey, Axe, and Danny all sense that something’s wrong. (full context)

Ethics and the “Rules of Engagement” Theme Icon

Axe believes the right thing to do would be to kill the goatherds. Danny says, “I don’t really give a shit what we do.” Luttrell doesn’t give his opinion.... (full context)

...vote. They’re all hardened SEALs, but they’re also Christians. Axe votes to kill the goatherds. Danny declines to vote. Luttrell hesitates, and then says, “We gotta let ‘em go.” Mikey says,... (full context)

...the same way as Luttrell. Luttrell can see someone else falling down the mountain—almost certainly Danny. Danny’s body rolls down the mountain, and when it finally stops, he doesn’t move. Luttrell... (full context)

The three SEALs open fire on the Taliban and rush toward Danny’s body. Luttrell, the resident medic, is unable to help Danny, since he’s lost his supplies... (full context)

...Taliban reinforcements seem to be coming in to replace any soldiers the SEALs kill. Suddenly, Danny falls to the ground—he’s been shot in the neck. Amazingly, he climbs back to his... (full context)

...shouts, “Fall back!” Right away, Axe and Luttrell jump down the mountain, while Mikey and Danny provide cover. Luttrell and Axe land safely, but almost as soon as they do, a... (full context)

...Axe shoot back at the Taliban. There are at least eighty soldiers rushing toward them. Danny and Mikey, amazingly, have managed to leap down the mountain and rejoin Luttrell and Axe.... (full context)

The four SEALs manage to move farther down the mountain, with Luttrell dragging Danny. Just then, additional Taliban fighters appear in the distance—the SEALs are even more badly outnumbered... (full context)

Luttrell realizes that Danny, who he’s been dragging down the mountain, is dead. Somehow, this makes Luttrell concentrate on... (full context)

...ground and screams out in pain. Then, very abruptly, he falls silent—he’s dead, as is Danny. Axe is losing blood fast—within a few minutes, he’ll probably be dead too. He says,... (full context)

...Luttrell gives the Ranger captain a full debriefing on his situation. He learns that Mikey, Danny, and Axe’s bodies haven’t been found. When Luttrell talks about his fight with the Taliban... (full context)

In the coming days, the troops recover the bodies of Mikey and Danny (Axe is yet to be found). Luttrell will always remember Mikey as a proud, brave,... (full context)