Did anyone watch "Taking Chance" last night?

[evangilder]

The HBO premiere of the movie Taking Chance was on last night. It was a good movie, although a tough ride, emotionally.

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.

If you get a chance, it's definitely worth a look.

You can see a preview of it here:
HBO Films: Taking Chance

 

[Amsel]

Thanks for pointing this out. It looks like a movie worth watching.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Thank you for the post Eric.

 

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

That sounds pretty interesting. I didn't know the military did that.

 

[evangilder]

It was a nicely done movie. Having done escort duty once for this as well, it brought back a flood of memories.

 

[lesofprimus]

I can only imagine Eric.... Never had to do it, but the subject matter is long overdue for something like this....

 

[evangilder]

It really was long overdue. It's an emotional film to see for a vet, and for civilians as well. It's also a good way of showing the public that all those killed in action are treated with the highest dignity and respect by the military. Even when the casket will be closed for the entire memorial service, the body is cleaned and placed in a uniform that is perfect, down to the ribbons. They do make mention of that in the movie.

 

[mudpuppy]

I did see this the other night and I was quite impressed. I had heard a little about escort duty but didn't really have a very good idea of what all was involved. I'm glad to hear you say that the movie portrayed this accurately, eric. The dignity and respect that the fallen service members received was very moving.