Luttrell introduces his emotionally taxing journey—delivering news of death to the families of his fallen teammates. The setting, a windswept town on Long Island, New York, serves as a backdrop, accentuating the somber tone.

Luttrell and his five companions approach each home. It’s an ordeal that is nearly the same wherever they go. They are the harbingers of agony and confirmation, clarifying the uncertainty that clouds the bereaved households.

In the Prologue, Luttrell addresses both the physical and psychological toll of his journey. Repeatedly, he hears a scream, a desperate plea for help from a dying friend that he was unable to save.

Luttrell talks about his duties, how he must share personal anguish with the families of the fallen. He considers it a “sworn duty” to visit each home, despite the emotional difficulty of the task.

Luttrell’s fallen teammates are Mikey, Danny, and Axe, all of whom died fighting in Afghanistan in the summer of 2005. In a conversation with Mikey’s mother, Luttrell assures her that her son did not suffer, even if that may be a calculated lie designed to bring some comfort. Luttrell praises Mikey as the “best officer” he ever knew.