Taking Chance

[RedForman]

I recently found this movie trailer and it really touched me


http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi113247001/

Taking Chance is a true story of a Marine Colonel who escorts the body of a young PFC killed in Iraq, home to his parents.

Here is the Colonels own words;


http://www.blackfive.net/main/2004/04/taking_chance.html

[crux]

I recently found this movie trailer and it really touched me


http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi113247001/

Taking Chance is a true story of a Marine Colonel who escorts the body of a young PFC killed in Iraq, home to his parents.

Here is the Colonels own words;


http://www.blackfive.net/main/2004/04/taking_chance.html

Thanks for posting that

[RedForman]

I've watched the trailer 5 times and my eyes well up everytime.

Im worried if I actually see the movie, I'll be bawling like a 5 year old girl with a skinned knee:redface:

[fjccommish]

What a story.

[Crossriflesonblue]

Now he was on the high ground overlooking his town.


Ive always called it the "Sweet Ground of Home." It's something we long for when we are alive and wish to be laid to rest in when we die....

[RedForman]

Here is the HBO main site for the movie.

http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/

I think what impresses me about this movie , is that it seems to cut across all political lines. No political bullcrap, no agenda, just being witness to what happens in every war, but we, the public, are so insulated from the day to day machinations of the war effort, we grow blissfully ignorant of the details of the sacrifices young men and women make in the name of this country.

Im so proud...............and humbled.

[Rhonda]

Here is the HBO main site for the movie.

http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/

I think what impresses me about this movie , is that it seems to cut across all political lines. No political bullcrap, no agenda, just being witness to what happens in every war, but we, the public, are so insulated from the day to day machinations of the war effort, we grow blissfully ignorant of the details of the sacrifices young men and women make in the name of this country.

Im so proud...............and humbled.

I am always looking for a movie like that , that will portray the truth without all the politics

Thank you for posting this

[RedForman]

Premieres Saturday February 21, 8PM

On HBO.

[Loyal American]

I've watched the trailer 5 times and my eyes well up everytime.

Im worried if I actually see the movie, I'll be bawling like a 5 year old girl with a skinned knee:redface:

The trailer makes me cry too and I am really disappointed that I won't be able to watch it here in Germany!



Movie Premiere Hits Close to Home

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bryan G. Carfrey
Special to American Forces Press Service

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m108/BarbOOOO2/photos%202/lrs_090209-M-0822C-001.jpg
Retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl stands next to actor Kevin Bacon during a premier showing of HBO's made-for-TV movie “Taking Chance” in Washington, D.C., Feb. 9, 2009.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2009 – Senior military officials and government dignitaries gathered to watch the premiere of “Taking Chance,” the HBO made-for-TV movie, at the Motion Picture Association of America here Feb. 9.

“Taking Chance” depicts the experiences of Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl while escorting the body of a fallen Marine from Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del., to Dubois, Wyo., in April 2004.

Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps was killed in action April 9, 2004, in Ramadi, Iraq, while assigned to Battery L, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment.

“When we started filming the movie, I thought the American people should be the main character,” said Strobl, who retired in 2007 and co-wrote the screenplay. “That’s why I wrote it -- the reaction of the American people who witnessed the journey along the way.”

Actor Kevin Bacon portrays Strobl in the movie, and also made an appearance at the premiere.

“I was amazed and surprised I didn’t know anything about it and had no idea about the [escorting] process,” Bacon said. “I liked that it was a simple telling of Mike’s journey with Chance. It doesn’t really hit you over the head. It kind of sneaks up on you, and the accumulative effect of watching the process and the way people reacted along the trip is what I responded to as an actor.”

To prepare for the role -- his third time portraying a Marine -- Bacon said, he met with Strobl on several occasions.

“I try my best when playing Marines to pay attention to detail and try to humanize them as much as possible,” Bacon said. “People who aren’t in the military sometimes find it tough to look past the uniform.”

After the movie, spectators, who included Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, were given the opportunity to shake hands with and express their thanks to director Ross Katz, who co-wrote the screenplay with Strobl.

“I wanted to portray honesty in this movie,” Katz said. “When you witness the remains of a young man who gave his life for civilians like me, we aren’t red states or blue states, we’re purple states. We’re all Americans.”

“Taking Chance” is scheduled to premiere on HBO on Feb. 21.


http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53071 (http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53071)

[RedForman]

http://www.chancephelps.org/?p=219



The following was written by a friend of Kelley Orndoff, Tom Stout, shortly after his first visit to Dubois and the funeral of LCpl Phelps. This letter was sent to the Dubois mayor and published in the Dubois Frontier.

Thank you Tom.

To The Citizens of Dubois, Wyoming,


A week ago today, I was in your town attending the funeral of Chance Phelps, PFC, USMC. It was certainly a sad weekend, for as a retired soldier, I have seen and participated in too many such events. However, this funeral had an effect on me that no other did; an effect for which I want to thank the people of Dubois. My father was career Air Force and therefore, I have traveled from one base to another and one post to another all my life until recently. I have never had the opportunity to live or spend any length of time in a small town. In spite of this, I would like to say that I have always believed in the ethereal concept of “Americana”, the core belief system portrayed in Norman Rockwell’s wonderful paintings…things such as patriotism, independence, a belief in progress through hard work, community spirit, and a bond between neighbors. It is such a wonderfully powerful thing to believe in. It was a strong enough belief for me to want to dedicate my life protecting it. Unfortunately, never did I see it until last weekend. One might ask, how did I see it? I saw it when I first drove into Dubois and noted the many flag poles, all at half mast. I saw it in the hushed, sad, reverent tone of everyone in the town the entire time my wife and I were there. I saw it in the faces of the people lining the street. I saw it in the respectful way the two high school girls stood there with flags in hand, not giggling with each other, not talking to boyfriends on their cell phones, but both respectful and both close to tears. I saw it in the face of the many “Marlboro Men” standing there with their hats over their hearts, and the look of genuine grief. I saw it in the face of the young woman who had her baby on her left hip, and flag in her right hand, consciously or not, teaching her child an early lesson in patriotism. I saw it in the face of the older woman in pink who was standing at the video store, shivering, but standing there nonetheless. I saw it in the face of the 16 or 17 year old blond Boy Scout, who also had a large flag in hand. He wasn’t there to socialize. He wasn’t there to earn a merit badge. He was there to pay respect for a brave American who embodied everything the Boy Scouts stood for and who died for them. That wouldn’t be cool in a big city. I saw it in the volunteer fire department standing there respectfully. It was apparent in the determination of the members of the VFW to once again be sharp in their “about face” in spite of old wounds and age. I saw it in the long lines of tables, covered with food. Food that didn’t come catered or boxed from a business or grocery store, but was cooked in a hundred kitchens and in casserole pots with family names on them. It was shown by the fact that the Motel 8 owner and kind clerk didn’t charge my wife and me for the room that night because we were there for the funeral. I heard it in the patriotic music playing in the Water Wheel store and the genuine kindness with which the store owner spoke of the entire family. I felt it in the honest welcome my wife and I received wherever we went in Dubois.


Last Saturday was a very sad day for me, but it was also a good one. I gave over 20 years of my life; and much more, Chance gave one year AND his life, to preserve it. Thank you Dubois. Thank you for confirming to me that Americana really exists. I’ll never forget you and hopefully, will come back to visit someday during a happier time.

And thank you Chance.

~Thomas Stout

[Loyal American]

I don't get HBO over here but I just saw online that they will release the DVD on Mar 19th, I've already put in an order. Anyone see it, was it a good movie, did they do a good job?


Campaign Coincides with ‘Taking Chance’ Film Premiere

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2009 – Coinciding with the HBO Film premiere of “Taking Chance,” based on a Marine’s tribute to a fallen comrade, more than 100 servicemembers joined the Run4Chance team at the 28th Annual Los Alamitos 5K “Race on the Base” in California to honor the fallen hero.

“Taking Chance,” starring Kevin Bacon, premiered Feb. 21 on HBO and is based on the special care given to fallen Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps during his final journey home to Dubois, Wyo. He was accompanied by Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, who volunteered to escort Phelps’ body from Dover Air Force Base and later wrote of his experience. Phelps was killed in Iraq in 2004 at the age of 19.

Shortly after Phelps death, his family and friends formed the Run4Chance team. In 2004, the team ran the Marine Corps Marathon here as a tribute to Phelps and to raise funds for the Chance Phelps Foundation, a nonprofit organization that benefits U.S. troops, especially those who have deployed to Iraq.

With the backing of HBO, the foundation and its Run4Chance team encourage distance runners and military groups to run under the team name in marathons across the country, with entry fees waived for servicemembers. At the Los Alamitos event, HBO presented the Chance Phelps Foundation with a $10,000 donation on behalf of servicemembers who participated in the race.

The initiative also aims to raise awareness for the Fisher House Foundation and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

“By shining a national spotlight on Run4Chance, we hope to honor the memory of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps and pay tribute to all fallen Marines and soldiers,” Zach Enterlin, vice president of advertising and promotions at HBO, said. “By raising awareness of the foundation’s great work, more servicemembers and their families will benefit from the financial and medical support it provides.”

HBO will sponsor several Run4Chance teams in races around the country this year. The initial schedule of races includes the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, San Diego, May 31; New York City Half-Marathon, Aug. 30; Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon, Virginia Beach, Va., Sept. 6; Marine Corps Marathon, Arlington, Va., Oct. 25; and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon, San Antonio, Nov. 15.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53216

[Ravenmad]

Being one that has been not only an escort to a fallen Marine but one that I was friends with before we went into the service, I have to say I had tears in my eyes for almost all the movies, (It started hard after the cars started putting the lights on) I have to say they did a briliant job putting this together and got so many details right. I have not been able to go back and watch it again due to the strong personal feelings, it was that well done. The only thing that I wish they would have put in was TAPS for some reason they did not and I think it takes away from it. TAPS is so powerful.. I learned of it when we buried my WWII vet Grandfather at a the young age of 10 and have not been able to hear it without a tear in my eye.

Semper FI

[Loyal American]

Being one that has been not only an escort to a fallen Marine but one that I was friends with before we went into the service, I have to say I had tears in my eyes for almost all the movies, (It started hard after the cars started putting the lights on) I have to say they did a briliant job putting this together and got so many details right. I have not been able to go back and watch it again due to the strong personal feelings, it was that well done. The only thing that I wish they would have put in was TAPS for some reason they did not and I think it takes away from it. TAPS is so powerful.. I learned of it when we buried my WWII vet Grandfather at a the young age of 10 and have not been able to hear it without a tear in my eye.

Semper FI
God bless you and your family for serving our country Ravenmad, it's greatly appreciated! I am so sorry about your friend! :flag:

I am not military, just a mom/grandma but my daughter has experienced funeral duty when she was stationed in up state NY and she said the TAPS produce powerful emotions! I can cry just hearing TAPS on a video or on TV. I am a little surprised they didn't have that in the movie.

Thanks for the movie evaluation, I just wanted them to do it right!

Semper FI

[AEOakley]

....gave "Taking Chance" his highest rating -- 4 stars. He said those who already love America will love this country even more after watching the film.

The Wall Street Journal review was also excellent -- just READING about the movie brought tears to my eyes!

Here's a short excerpt: By DOROTHY RABINOWITZ

It was impossible to imagine, beforehand, all the ways a film like "Taking Chance" (Saturday, 8-9:30 p.m. EST, on HBO) could work its power. There are no conflicts, no warring sides, no mysteries of character -- the usual stuff of drama. The story's outcome is clear from the beginning. Yet it's no less clear that "Taking Chance" is not only high drama, but a kind that is, in the most literal way, breathtaking -- watching parts of it can make breathing an effort, and those parts come at every turn. It's no less obvious that this film, about a Marine killed in combat, could have gone wrong in all sorts of ways and did so in none of them. There is in this work, at once so crushing and exhilarating, not a false note.

The credit for that belongs to Lt. Col. Michael Stroble, U.S. Marine Corps, on whose journal the film is based; to producer, writer and director Ross Katz; and, not least, to Kevin Bacon, whose portrayal of the devoted Col. Stroble is a masterwork -- flawless in its fierce economy, eloquent in its testimony, most of it wordless, to everything that is going on.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123509024004628221.html

We don't subscribe to HBO, so we didn't see it, but I am looking forward to renting it as soon as it's available!

[AEOakley]

Here's an excerpt from a GOPUSA column about the film, written by Bobby Eberle:

But what about the real cost of freedom? I'm talking about the men and women who have given their lives to keep this country free. They have paid the ultimate price so that you and I can live in this great country. In the new HBO film, "Taking Chance," we are reminded of that sacrifice and how a fallen Marine still touches the lives of those around him, even after he has passed from this world.

The film is about the journey of two Marines, one living and one who was killed in action in Iraq. Lt. Col. Mike Strobl had already served in Iraq during Desert Storm. However, during Iraqi Freedom when many of his fellow Marines were returning to fight, he remained in a desk job with his wife and family. The film portrays Strobl as conflicted with this decision as he continually monitors the Pentagon's list of those killed in action in Iraq.

http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=995

[skittles1]

I visited my parents last week and my dad was telling me about this movie. It just happened to play again on HBO while I was at their house. What a beautiful film. Like many who have posted, I had tears in my eyes through most of the movie.

[2Parties1GlobalistGoal]

Very sad movie. I usually don't watch these types of movies but it looked so good in the trailers I had to watch it. It was very well done.

[Mohawk5]

Having a brother that is buried at Arlington National Cemetery this was one of the hardest movies I have ever watched.

[wndrwmn71]

I read his story about Chance Phelps in "The Blog Of War" by Matthew Currier Burden. It is the most dog-eared group of pages.

Recently, I had to fill out some paperwork as to who I wanted to escort my body should I die. Sobering.I have had a close friend pass away on active duty, and I had a long talk with the guy who escorted him. Unless you have actually done it, or had close contact with that sort of thing, no words, or movie, or story could ever come close.

But I'm glad something like this is getting exposure. Gotta see this movie. I know I'll cry.

[Loyal American]

I read his story about Chance Phelps in "The Blog Of War" by Matthew Currier Burden. It is the most dog-eared group of pages.

Recently, I had to fill out some paperwork as to who I wanted to escort my body should I die. Sobering.I have had a close friend pass away on active duty, and I had a long talk with the guy who escorted him. Unless you have actually done it, or had close contact with that sort of thing, no words, or movie, or story could ever come close.

But I'm glad something like this is getting exposure. Gotta see this movie. I know I'll cry.I've ordered a copy of the movie but it hasn't gotten here yet, we don't get HBO in Germany. However, Crux sent me a link at the beginning of the month and I watched it.........but it only played 57 minutes so I haven't gotten to see the ending yet!

They did a good job, not one ounce of politics in it, I cried right at the beginning when I saw them getting ready to put large bags of ice in the coffins and the tears came freguently there after! I've worked as a civilian in ER and surgery for the majority of 40 years. I do understand that civilians can't understand but this movie was done right, with a great deal of respect and it made me love our military even more than I already do. Thanks for your service to our country wndrwmn71 and I am very sorry about your close friend.

[Jacksmyname]

Watched it yesterday.
Had a limp in my throat almost through the whole thing.
OUTSTANDING film.