Required Viewing: Taking Chance

My first encounter with the story of PFC Chance Phelps, like so many other people who know his name, came in a post by Blackfive on April 27, 2004. It contains an article written by LtCol Michael Strobl, USMC, upon bringing Chance home for burial after he was killed in action in Iraq.

It is a stirring piece. If you haven't read it yet, please do.

The story has had bigger legs than this, though. In fact, according to Matt Burden (Blackfive himself), it is one of the most read pieces he has ever put on the 'Net, and even eventually led to him meeting Chance's family in person.

But you can go read all that stuff for yourself. It's at the link above.

I wanted to write today about the movie that has been made from Chance and Mike's story.

It went to air on HBO this past Saturday, and stars Kevin Bacon in the role of LtCol Strobl.

Through the magic of Tivo, my wife and I were able to watch it together tonight...and we did so in complete silence.

For those who would worry about Hollywood's portrayals of soldiers in the last few years, and how this story might have been handled...

Relax. This one was done right.

No preaching. No high drama. In fact, nothing unnecessary at all.

This is, quite simply, the story of how Chance came home.

Kevin turns in a beautifully restrained performance as Mike Strobl, who volunteered to serve as Chance's escort when he learned that the young man hailed from Mike's own hometown in Colorado.

Though his is the character we see the most, Kevin's dignified and understated portrayal takes just the right amount of focus off of Strobl himself, and allows the story of Chance's last trip home -- and of all the people who contributed, in ways great and small, to its eventual completion -- to assume its proper place at center stage.

I won't blow it for you any further. Suffice it to say that proper honor was done here.

I hear tell the DVD should be coming out sometime in May. In my humble opinion, it is already money well spent.

Incidentally, Matt has recently posted a copy of the email which was sent to LtCol Strobl by PFC Phelps' commanding general, after he received Strobl's report at journey's end.

By chance (pun fully intended), the general's name was Brigadier General John F. Kelly, the same general who recently participated in the transfer-of-authority upon which I posted two weeks ago.

PFC Chance Phelps helped make that happen.