Simple Man Entertainment

I was taking it easy this weekend having had a thoroughly horrid week and was cruising my premium channels on cable and came across a movie starring Kevin Bacon called “Taking Chance”. I saw in the preview that Mr. Bacon was wearing a Marine Corps uniform, and I thought to myself that this was just another one of those shoot-em up war movies that have seemed to become so popular in the last few years.

You know the kind of war movie I’m talking about. The kind of movie that portrays our troops as mindless killers, that kill everything in sight from the terrorists to innocent civilians and all in the name of the country, flag, and freedom. These kinds of movies not only give a false impression of our troops, but do not endear our nation to the global community.

In the case of “Taking Chance” I was pleasantly surprised to find out that such was not the case. “Taking Chance” is based upon actual events experienced by the writer of the story Mike Strobl Lt. Colonel USMC Retired who is played by Kevin Bacon. The story is a very powerful account of the emotional and psychological impact that KIA’s returning from Iraq have upon their families and those in uniform they come into contact with.

In this film Kevin Bacon/Mike Strobl who does man power studies for the USMC at Quantico VA, comes across the name of Chance Russel, Phelps PFC USMC who was posthumously promoted to Lance Corporal in a list of KIA’s returning to the US for transport back to his family in Colorado.

Lt. Colonel Strobl who is from the same town in Colorado requests permission to escort the PFC home in hopes of reconnecting with his roots, only to find that the PFC is going to Wyoming where his family has since returned. He is informed by his chain of command that it is unusual for a senior officer to escort the remains of a PFC, but is granted permission to do so anyway.

The trip begins at Dover AFB in Delaware at the mortuary located there. At Dover he observes the care our returning dead receive from these tireless and dedicated military personnel who are usually the last to see the bodies before they are laid to rest. To say the least he is impressed with their professionalism and decorum. He is also greatly impacted by the honor and respect each KIA is afforded as well.

All along his journey to Dubois Wyoming Chance Phelps final resting place Mike Strobl encounters many different people from all walks of life and notices the effect his presence and his obligation to Chance Phelps has on those he meets. From the driver that takes him to the airport with his charge to meeting the family of Chance and the funeral, he is ripped to his core with guilt for not having gone to Iraq.

Many of his friends whom he had served with in the first Gulf War had gone back and he didn’t, opting instead to request another office tour so that he could stay with his family. He constantly reflects upon his decision to stay home as an act of cowardice and feels ashamed at his actions especially after coming into contact with others who are currently stationed in Iraq, but have returned to take their buddies home and in one case a brother.

“Taking Chance” is not really a feel good story nor is it a war story, this movie is simply a humanist movie. It humanizes our brave men and women in uniform by showing that they to are affected by a wide range of emotions particularly with regard to the service that they render to our nation and us citizens. There is no star studded soundtrack, or an entire cast of headliners, but it does have one thing in it that most of the tripe coming out of Hollyweird doesn’t have, and that’s the truth.

I hope you all have enjoyed this blog and that you enjoy the trailer I am including as well. On a scale of 1-10 this one is definitely a 15 and I recommend that you all watch it if you have the chance. That is all I have for this post, but I will be back again soon, CIAO4NOW!!!!!

P.S. To Lt. Colonel Mike Strobl USMC Retired Sempre Fidelis and OOHRAAAAAAAAA Sir!!!!!