Taking Chance is an HBO original film that chronicles the experiences of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl while escorting the remains of fallen Marine Pvt. Chance Phelps to his hometown for burial. The film was HBO’s most watched original in five years and starred Kevin Bacon in the lead role as Mike Strobl.
Pvt Phelps’s unit was providing convoy escort duty April 9, 2004 near Ar-Ramadi Iraq. The convoy came under heavy fire. Despite being wounded, Phelps continued to man his machine gun, providing covering fire to allow his comrades to move to safety. Upon withdrawal, he would receive a fatal head wound. Phelps would posthumously be awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and promotion to Corporal.
Strobl volunteered to escort Phelps after mistakenly believing they came from the same area of Colorado. While Strobl was required to compile an after-action report, he was so struck by the kindness and sympathy shown by everyone along the way, he began keeping a journal. Upon returning home he wrote a brief 12 page essay and circulated it to some of his comrades. The essay went viral and one gold star father who read it had contacts at HBO. Soon, Strobl was contacted about making his experience into the movie “Taking Chance”.
Mike shares his personal recollection of the journey for our listeners and which scenes reflected what actually happened. Interestingly, one of my favorite scenes in the film never happened but the director added it in order to allow the audience a “chance to catch their breath.”
Strobl currently serves as the as the Marine Corps Assistant Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
TAKEAWAY: Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that “Taking Chance” had an important impact upon his decision to allow the media access to the transfer of fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base.