HBO Films: Taking Chance

Based on the story written by Lt.Col Strobl on his duties of escorting one of the fallen home to his family


BLACKFIVE: Taking Chance Home

This will be very tough for me to watch, but it will be something that has to be watched.

Thanks for posting this Fozzy.

I didn't know him personally, but I was living in WY at the time and had heard about it. Eight months ago I lost a good friend from the small town I grew up in and it hit me harder than I ever thought it would. RIP Tyler

Serendipity, I guess. I haven't been home much lately, and haven't watched HBO for weeks. Just finished watching a movie on HBO, and the trailer following it was for this movie. I'll be sure to watch it.

I know it will be tough for you, Fozzy. Like you EVER get a break from THAT! Good to see you engaging again. My thoughts are always with you.

Hobo

I just watched the film. There are many things about it that filled in some of the blanks for me regarding my son's trip home and his care through the travels that he made to get back to us. I wrote a blog not too long after my son came home. I included many of the people who go un-noticed in this process and are not even thought about or mentioned in the news or even by most people. The bravest of the brave I call them. When the military go off to wars, they are trained and expect the worst, they never go alone and are among their bothers and sisters that are closer to them than their own families. When the notification teams, casualty officers and escorts come into our homes, they have no idea what will great them and they bring news and words that mean that our loved ones are no more. I thank Lt Col Strobl for writing this and whomever had the insight to put this story out for the world to see. I want to thank the whole cast and crew for making this movie.

It's good to hear from you FOZZY. I'm afraid I have not gotten to see that movie on HBO. I grew up with a couple of guys that came home that way, and one that is still MIA. I would have said something much sooner, but I'm afraid that words on this subject do not come easy for me. I remember a proud "brand new blue-star Dad", and I'm sorry at your loss. I did, however, read the write-up at the link you posted. They really have not changed it in 45 years, have they. Thank you for letting us know about it. The guys that are escorted home are not the only ones that pay the price. "They also serve that are left behind." The families and loved ones continue to make installments. You've been in my thoughts more times than I'd care to count.

And, you've been missed on the board.

Leonard

Lt Col Strobel is right down the road from me. Kevin Bacon was in town the other day with him for the films debut here.

Kevin Bacon touts new HBO film

Fredericksburg.com - 'Chance' comes to Virginia

There are many stories, tid bits and facts that we discover and are humbled by during the last year. We have met and been around and welcomed into the family of these fine people. Some are very eager to get to meet my family. We (honestly my wife more than I) have devoted our spare everything to the troops. We talk to them support them send them packages, welcome them into our home and travel to meet them when we can. Some of course are more reluctant because as this film points out, "what do you say to a mother who has lost their child"? Many feel responsible and play the what if game. I have spent a lot of time talking to some of these men who are having problems because my son did not come home. I have to tell them (and I mean this from the bottom of my heart) that I would not wish this on any one of them to save my son or wish that the visit from the DOD darkened any one elses doorstep in this. My son was among the best men in the world. I would not trade any of them for my son and have this happen to them. My son has touched many lives in this world. They could not have stopped this from happening and it is a blessing to us that my son was the only one in his company to have been lost in this deployment.


My wife writes blogs as I do on this, she has the time to meet and stay in contact with the guys more than I and I cherish her for that. She has gotten flowers on mothers day and is known by a large portion of the 1/502 as "Momma Ang". Someone in the company made a banner with one gold star on the top and 28 blue stars on the bottom. Several contact my wife each and every day just to say hi and get some contact with their "den mother" My wife has been superb in all this.. another one of the brave who I honor every day I have left on this worthless floating rock. She wrote a blog the other day about another of these men. These men do what they do and do not see how damn special that they are.


"I Was Told To Call You"
A few months back I got a call I was not expecting. It was a soldier who served with my son and who had come home after being injured. I could tell he was scared to call me. He and I had not emailed but one of the Sgts. had told him he should give me a call. Later the Sgt got an ass chewing for tell this young man to call me without knowing first hand what kind of reception that call would receive. Not every family is prepared to talk to the men their loved ones served with.

But anyway.. I talked to the man for some time. He is a very kind person and we hit it off. Later I got to meet him when I went to the Homecoming. He spoke of my son but never in any details. So when I heard a story from my son's commander I was floored.

This man was my son's gunner. He was on the gun the day my son's vehicle was hit. He never told me. Nor did he tell me that because there was incoming fire he stayed on the gun to lay cover so that my son could safely receive medical attention. keep in mind the vehicle was on fire. this man stood with his legs burning to make sure the Medic and others could safely attend to my son. He did not leave that gun until there was no other option. He was doing his job. That is what he was trained to do. I don't give a crap how much training you have it is take HONOR and COURAGE to stay in a burning vehicle on the gun to make sure that others are safe. I was told that the others in the vehicle received minor scratches etc. No one ever mentioned this man's burned legs. My heart cries thinking about what this man did. No one person that day deserves more credit than another. They all did their jobs and did them well. But I have this imagine in my head of him on that gun, flames around his legs, waiting until they could safely move my son before he relented. He gave my son part of the chance he had to live. His cover fire, the medic's incredible skill, the team effort and speed of which that got my son to the hospital... all adds up to Pokey had a chance because of these men. It was a flicker of hope. And no one.. NO ONE.. can ever say they did not do everything to save him. I can find peace in knowing that. It is something I have known from the start. But hearing stories like this brings home the humbling fact. And if you ask them.. They were just doing their jobs.

Knottie's niche

Fozzy, thank you for your son and his service to our great country. I am so in debt to him and the men and women like him who serve and who have served courageously for us all.

Thanks for your post.

i was watching 'taking chance' last night. i was so moved by the movie, almost to tears. i thought of you, your son and family as i watched it. i knew it was the year anniversary yesterday. it's part of the homecoming process that i hadn't thought about before. i guess none of us really do.

it was a tremendous movie and i am especially glad that hbo kept the politics out of it.

again, your family is my thoughts and prayers.