Taking Chance

"Blue one to blue two, checkpoint alpha bravo has been reached."

"Copy, leader one."

"Blue two, we have a suspicious vehicle on the right"...

"moving pretty fast. Over."

"Army Corps four, is he slowing down?"

"Blue one, why are you driving so slow?"

"You worried about a ticket? Over."

"Sorry, guys. Just rubbing one out."

"Phelps is down!"

- Good morning, sir. - Good morning.

Once we're quartered, we'll give you a rundown...

on battalion and squadron-level readiness and today's brief...

will focus on First Marine Division.

The slide indicates that personnel readiness 1st MARDIV...

is not as bad as they are reporting.

However, sir, as you are aware, last Friday they made a request...

for 300 additional augments.

Given the insurgency in Al-Anbar and the recent spike in casualties...

it's not surprising that they made this request.

Sir, it's my recommendation to just send enough augments...

to cover their casualties of last month.

How many of you have been in Iraq since 9/11?

I know you've spent a lot of time on these reports, but I can't have...

a bunch of analysts contradict the commanders on the ground.

I don't know. With all this administrative crap...

it makes you wonder if we're losing focus on what really matters.

Sometimes I wish I was over there.

I don't know, sir.

Be careful what you wish for, right?

- Hey, Dad. - Hello, everybody.

- Hi. - Dad.

Guess who came in first in her swim meet.

Let me guess.

You? High-five. That's great!

Listen, guys, how about we get some homework done before dinner?

I think that sounds like a great idea.

What are you cooking here?

White chicken chili with a balsamic reduction.

- You're getting creative. - Shut up.

Let us pray.

Ready. Down.

- Ready, two. - Present arms!

Forward march.

Bearers, halt.

That is not nice.

Dad, I think I got all of the words right, but I'm not sure.

I'll throw a quick one at you right now. "Tortellini."

T-o-r-i... I don't know.

Sir, last night I read the DOD Announcement about PFC Phelps.

He is from my home town, Clifton, Colorado.

I don't know if this falls to us or to the Pentagon, but...

sir, if the duty does fall to us...

I would be honored to escort him home.

It's a little unusual for an officer to escort a PFC.

Yes, sir, I know that, but...

I would very much like to do it, sir.

I'm going out of town for a few days. I'm being picked up at 6:00 am.

- Tomorrow morning? - Yeah.

I volunteered for escort duty.

There was this private first class, killed in Iraq. Young kid.

He's from Clifton. I volunteered to take him home.

What is this about, Mike?

It's not about anything. He's from Clifton, that's all.

It's going to be a quick trip, Stace.

I'll be back next week.

Please tell the family I'm so sorry for their loss.

I will.

I love you.

The remains are to travel feet first...

when being transported from one point to another.

At every stop, you must ensure that...

the remains have been correctly loaded.

At each transfer point, regardless of the mode of transport...

you will render honors.

Your duty, is not complete...

until you have delivered the remains to the funeral director.

Escorts are not required to stay for the funeral.

However, should you decide to stay...

there are specific guidelines for meeting the family.

At no point are you to discuss the nature of the deceased's death...

no are you to speculate on the activities surrounding the death.

You may deliver the personal effects directly to the next of kin.

These effects must stay on your person...

at all times until delivery.

Gentlemen, we have our first departure of the day.

We form about in the drive and render honors...

as all remains depart.

Detail...

attention!

Present arms!

Order arms!

Present arms!

Dismissed!

I'm afraid we've taken a lot of casualties this week.

He's not ready for departure today.

"But not what he completes in his lifetime."

"Imagine an evolution occurring over eons..."

"The attack tonight comes amid rising violence"...

"between insurgents and coalition troops throughout Iraq."

"Marines in Fallujah today pushed"...

"into the chaotic city from several directions."

"They met with heavy fire from assault rifles"...

"and rocket-propelled grenades."

I bet you didn't know Marines could sew.

He was quite impressive, your PFC.

He's so decorated for such a young man.

I didn't know him.

You can be sure that his uniform will be perfect.

Appreciate it, Colonel.

You know, whether it's now or later, it doesn't matter.

But just in case.

He's a military shrink. It's all confidential.

I'm good, thanks.

It's just an FYI.

Colonel Strobl, sir, you'll be leaving in about 15 minutes.

Transport will deliver you to Philadelphia airport...

with your final destination, Dubois, Wyoming.

Wyoming?

I thought I was on my way to Colorado, Clifton.

He joined up out in Colorado, but his parents lived in Wyoming.

That's where his family wants him buried.

- That all right? - Of course.

I have PFC Phelps's personal effects.

We'll now do our inventory and turnover.

Sir, Phelps's parents are divorced...

so you'll have an extra flag to present to them.

That way, the mother and the father will each get one.

If you could make sure everything's here, then sign the inventory.

I also have a letter...

Phelps's platoon commander wrote to the family.

Colonel, the mortuary specialist did the best that he could.

However, these remains are not recommended for viewing.

It's been my privilege to care for him, sir.

That's everything, we'll need to make...

a final identification before departure.

Sir, I need you to verify that this is PFC Chance Phelps...

and that you are ready for departure.

Okay.

Present arms!

- Feeling okay? - Yeah. I'm good.

We're almost there.

- Do you always do these routes? - Yeah.

I just started six months ago.

Nobody in my family's in the military and none of my friends.

But I thought about joining up.

Yeah, but I was too chickenshit.

Sorry. I mean too chicken.

- You can say shit. - Cool.

And plus the whole haircut thing.

I'm in a band and...

you know, you got to keep it long to keep the ladies happy.

What about you? What's your deal?

My deal? My deal is complicated.

Yeah? Well, when did you join up?

When I was 17.

My parents had to sign something because I was underage.

Yeah, that's young.

I know.

But I couldn't bear the thought of waiting another year.

All I wanted was to be a Marine and I joined up.

You graduate from boot camp, you feel like...

you're on top of the world and you travel.

You see these things you never thought you'd see.

It's hard, of course, but it's fun.

- It's fun? - Yeah.

I'm serious.

I've got to be honest.

No offense, but...

I don't really get what we're doing over there.

But...

last summer these two guys from my high school went...

and one of them ended up hurt really bad.

And last time I heard, he was at something Reed hospital.

- Walter Reed. - Yeah.

The other one, he didn't make it back.

I just wanted to do something.

Hey, Henry.

How you doing?

Colonel...

whenever you're ready.

Okay.

- Will you do me a favor? - Sure.

Let the family know we're thinking of them.

Will do. You're a good man, Rich.

- Thanks. - Be safe.

All right. See you.

"Attention, passengers. Increased security measures..."

Welcome to Northwest Airlines. ID, please.

I have a voucher.

He's the military escort. I'll check him in.

I've booked you through to the Billings...

but you can get your bags off in Minneapolis tonight.

I upgraded you to first class all the way to Billings.

Thanks. Appreciate that.

Thank you for your service.

Thanks again.

Belt, shoes, laptop in a separate bin.

All metal out of your pockets.

Sir, your bag needs to go through.

Yeah, you can wand this bag...