In April 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC, came across the name of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, a young Marine who had been killed by hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Strobl, a Desert Storm veteran with 17 years of military service, requested that he be assigned for military escort duty to accompany Chance’s remains to his family in Dubois, Wyo.
Witnessing the spontaneous outpouring of support and respect for the fallen Marine - from the groundskeepers he passed along the road to the cargo handlers at the airport - Strobl was moved to capture the experience in his personal journal. His first-person account, which began as an official trip report, gives an insight into the military’s policy of providing a uniformed escort for all casualties. The story became an Internet phenomenon when it was widely circulated throughout the military community and eventually reached the mainstream media.
‘Taking Chance’ chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that takes place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home. A uniquely non-political film about the war in Iraq, the film pays tribute to all of the men and women who have given their lives in military service as well as their families.
An HBO Films presentation of a Motion Picture Corporation of America and Civil Dawn Pictures production, Taking Chance marks the directorial debut of two-time Oscar®-nominated producer Ross Katz (‘Lost in Translation’). The screenplay is by Lt. Col Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.) and Ross Katz, based on the journal of the same name by Strobl, who also serves as military consultant. Strobl, who recently retired after serving 24 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, developed the original story with the strong support of Phelps’ parents, John Phelps and Gretchen Mack. The executive producers are Brad Krevoy (‘A Love Song for Bobby Long’), Cathy Wischner-Sola and Ross Katz; the co-executive producer is William Teitler (HBO’s ‘Empire Falls’); and the producer is Lori Keith Douglas (‘The Notorious Bettie Page’). HBO Films vice president Jenni Sherwood is the executive in charge of the production.
I’ve had the sad duty of escorting several military members on their final trip home, over the course of my former career, and was a casualty assistance calls officer during my time with a couple of different military units. Very, very sad for a number of reasons. My wife and I plan on watching this film and we would hope everybody else does, too.
I just watched this movie, and no matter what your take on the war is, this flick will haunt you. I ca’nt imagine that there will be a dry eye in anyones house that watches this movie. Kevin Bacon is superbe as the escort, and it is great to see a real movie for a change, about real sad stuff that happens every day…
No doubt, and it’s the real deal, which is not to take anything away from Kevin Bacon who did a masertfull performence. They are both complimentary and worthy of commendation.
I saw the preview a few nights ago and thought wow this will be a good movie. Forgot about it until yesterday reading the review in the WSJ. Tivo’d it and look forward to watching.
I have been on numerous flight back from Frankfurt this year, but the most memorable one, was we are sitting at the airport and this young officer is sitting next to us. He has to get up a few times to check with airport personnel, etc. No idea what is going on. My wife say’s something important is happening. Okay so we board the flight , forget about it, then the Delta pilot get’s on the PA system a few minutes before landing and makes one of the most incredible speeches I have ever heard. We were flying home a soldier who had just been killed, his escort was taking him to his hometown, he asked all passengers to stay seated until the accompaning officer deplaned. There was a silence and then clapping from all passengers European, USA you name. not a person dared getting up. The respect was amazing. The experience I will never forget.
it was a great and impactful movie. i saw it yesterday.
the position i admire most is to be both pro military and anti-war. i don’t think there’s a conflict, and i think you can strike this posture whether you’re a politician, a military man, or just in private society. i thought this movie did that. you could watch this movie and be proud to be a soldier or a veteran; yet you could watch this movie and think it every bit as anti-war as, say, paths of glory. if i was a high school civics teacher it would be required viewing in my class.
We in the airline (NWA) help these escorts in every way possible. My agents are directed to upgrade them to First Class when they can, and I’ve never witnessed a single incident, ever, where the fallen and his or her escort has been mistreated or mishandled in any way.
Here in Detroit, it was a common site (thankfully, it’s become less common with each passing month) for us to receive the escort’s fallen comrade, either as he or she was transferring from one flight to another, or ending their sad journey here at this hub. We have a specially painted (airbrushed with an eagle and a waving American flag) transfer cart for the remains, and we do everything we can to assist the escort and the military honor guard as they do their duty to the servicemember.
The scene depicting people at the MSP hub gathering around the aircraft to pay their respects is also spot-on. It seems the whole ramp and all the agents know when we’re seeing to the needs of what we in the business refer to as a “Military HR.” Being a retired vet myself, and having numerous employees who’ve also served their country, we all make a special effort to do what we can to smooth things out.
The fallen servicemember who travels through Detroit or ends his journey here also recieves a full police escort from the airport to his next flight or to his final, sad stop out in town. And like I said; I’ve never once witnessed anybody on any plane or up in the terminal, or out on my ramp, give anything but the utmost respect to these escorts and the men and women whom they’re seeing to their final destination.
It was a very moving film, and brought back some poignant and sometimes-wrenching moments. Four stars. Without question.
I recorded it over the weekend and watched last night. Excellent film, very powerful and moving, especially the scene with the tarmac workers in Minneapolis stopping to pay their respects.
