Talking about Taking Chance with Ret. Lt. Col. Mike Strobl and Gretchen Mack tonight on Pundit Review Radio
For those of you unfamiliar with the story behind the HBO movie Taking Chance, a New York Post review,
“Taking Chance,” though, a work of transcendent sorrow and infinite dignity, was watched by two million viewers on its first HBO showing last Saturday, the best figure for an HBO original movie in five years. Though the violent death of a serviceman informs every frame, it is also a powerful statement about duty and honor as embodied in the stark face of USMC Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, nobly portrayed by Kevin Bacon with a chesty military bearing and a hidden well of resolve. The film is based on Strobl’s experience escorting the remains of Phelps, who was killed in action in 2004 and who inspired Strobl to keep a journal published on blogs such as Blackfive.net.
Here is Lt. Col. Strobl’s incredible account of Taking Chance Home.
We were honored to have Chance Phelps mother, Gretchen Mack, join us a couple of weeks ago to talk about her son and give us a preview of the movie. Now that we have all seen the movie, this is our time to say thank you, to Gretchen and Mike Strobl. As an emailer, Joe from CA, wrote to me,
We’d like to thank Gretchen and Chance’s family for sharing their loss with us - a self-sacrifice for the greater good on top of the ultimate sacrifice that Chance made.
Tonight at 9:30pm is your opportunity to do so.
Special Guests: Ret. Lt. Col. Mike Strobl and Gretchen Mack
9:30pm EST on Pundit Review Radio, streaming live at WRKO
The phone numer is 617-266-6868 or 877-469-4322
March 1, 2009 11:27 am 
Col. Strobl,
I just finished watching “Taking Chance”, for the eighth time. Every time I watch, I cry the whole way through it. My uncle is a retired Lt. Col. from the U.S. Air Force. He flew 178 missions over Viet Nam. My family prayed everyday not to get the phone call, telegram, or officers at the door. After Viet Nam, he went on to be head of the Eurpeon SAC. When he retired, we were glad to have him home. He has always been my real life hero. I have his patches from all his missions, and aircraft he flew. From his f-4 Phantom to the F-15? Eagle. I actually got to sit in that one. But as I tell him often, Thank-you for your service. I always tell my uncle the same thing. His name is Lt.Col. George Devorshak (ret). Take care of yourself and your family.
Sincerely,
Nafine Brown
I am the son of a WW2 Marine. I was so touched to see the honor, compassion, and respect given to a fallen soldier,that I have seen (Taking Chance 19 times). I could also relate to this movie in so many ways, due to the fact that I also live in Wyoming and have carried 21 caskets to their graves. I also relate to the cars turning on the headlights in respect, I know doing this is how I was brought up,Is this done everywhere?
I watched the HBO movie that I rented from my local business last night. It was again hard to sleep later thinking of the sacrifices made by all our brave men and women in the Armed Forces. And it was harder still to relate to my fellow employees today the honour of that you told of Lance Corporal Phelps.
My only son is in Iraq as I type this to you so I relate quite well as a parent. What you did by telling the story was such a blessing for the Phelp’s family and it is a blessing to all true Americans.
Today, with so much turmoil in our country, how important it is to have you tell just a small bit of what is true courage, noble, honourable, just, and right.
With so many who grieve for a pop icon and little notice to the real heroes that have and are paying for pop icons to be venerated (even unjustly), thank God for recording your journey and being courageous to have it public both by internet and made into a movie.
This is one movie that I will own and will forever be in my heart.
Thank you for your service and know that you, as all your “brothers and sisters, are the true American heroes that America will forever hold in the highest of respect.
I would just like to convey to Lt Col Stobl my gratitude for the story. In 2005 I had a similar experience as a marine and commander of a VFW post in Ohio. 48 marines from 3/25 were killed in Iraq. One Cpl Brad Squires was a member of our post. It became my duty to assist his family as best we could. I went to too many funerals and it rekindled experiences that I had in Vietnam many years ago. I found the same compassion from the public that unfortunately we never had. My journey with Brads mom and family will never be forgotten. This movie has given my wife an understanding of some of my deep feelings I have for marines and the corps. (those were buried for many years). Kevin Bacon was outstanding in the role. Please accept my gratitude for the story and tell Kevin he made an old marine proud of the corps and our country.
I just finished watching “Taking Chance” for the first time. I was a little apprehensive before the movie, anticipating the usual Hollywood view of the military as dumb hicks who love violence. Thank you for showing what the military and their families are really about. God Bless all our troops. And thanks to the Viet Nam Vets who never got their props.