Airmen, Marines highlight missions in HBO movie

  • Published
  • By Capt. Shannon Collins
  • Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) --  More than 35 Airmen and 50 Marines who served as extras and subject matter experts to showcase how the military and American community cares for servicemembers for HBO's "Taking Chance" will see their hard work pay off when the show airs Feb. 21.

"Taking Chance" is a movie based on the first-person narrative of retired Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl as he accompanies the body of 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps, killed in Iraq in April 2004, from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to his hometown and final resting place of Dubois, Wyo.

To assist HBO Executive Producer Brad Krevoy with the making of the movie, active-duty and Reserve Marines from New York, New Jersey, Utah and Montana, took leave to serve as extras. About 35 active-duty Airmen from McGuire AFB, N.J., took leave to serve as extras while director Ross Katz filmed scenes in and around a static C-17 Globemaster III at McGuire AFB. Civilian subject matter experts from the Charles Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, also called the Dover Port Mortuary at Dover AFB volunteered their expertise to make sure the movie was realistic and conveyed the sensitivity of their daily mission, respecting the fallen.

Ensuring respect is paid to the fallen servicemembers is a way of life for subject matter expert and movie technical advisor Bill Zwicharowski, who works for the Charles Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs. Having served as a Marine and having worked with the Army for 10 years and with the Air Force for 10 years, he was familiar with Colonel Strobl's story.

"It was an amazing story of how pride and patriotism continued way beyond the journey to and through Dover Port Mortuary," the senior mortuary specialist said. "It seemed that every stop along the way, people cared as much as we do here at Dover -- that was so reassuring for us to know."

When he was asked to help with the movie, the licensed funeral director and embalmer said he was honored but slightly leery.

"I was certainly honored but I feared that the movie wouldn't portray the care given to our fallen," he said. "When I saw the trailer, I was especially impressed and relieved that HBO and everyone involved made every effort to ensure that the movie was realistic and that it conveyed the sensitivity of our mission. Every time I see the trailer, I still get goose bumps."

His mission, along with his co-workers, is to prepare and transport the fallen in the most timely, most sensitive, professional manner possible.

"Every fallen hero comes to Dover and is escorted home," Mr. Zwicharowski said. "Everyone along the way truly cares."

When Marine Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata, the Department of Defense Project Officer for the movie, read the script in 2007, he said, "This is a project the Marine Corps must be a part of."

"There's no hidden political agenda; it's just a true and honest story about a Marine taking one of our fallen home to his family," said the Public Affairs Chief with the Marine Corps Motion Picture and Television Liaison Office in Los Angeles.

For Sergeant Zapata, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"You could work here for 50 years and never have a project so powerful or so positive come through the office," he said. "I've worked on big blockbuster productions that were viewed throughout the world and brought in millions of dollars, but they didn't inspire the kind of pride and sense of accomplishment I feel about my involvement with 'Taking Chance.'"

During the filming, Marine Corps Burial Details conducted the fallen Marine's dignified transfer from the C-17 at McGuire AFB. These Marines perform this honorable duty in real life.

"They were amazing and left an indelible impression on the production crew," the sergeant said.

Sergeant Zapata has seen the movie twice to make sure uniforms were correct and the military was portrayed as realistically as possible. Even though he knew what to expect and had been present at the various filming projects, it still affected him.

"It's brought a lump to my throat every time," the Marine said.

Mr. Chuck Davis, chief, Air Force Motion Picture and Television Liaison, Air Force Office of Public Affairs, Entertainment Liaison Office, echoed his sentiment.

"Knowing that the story was based upon real events made this a very, very special project," he said. "Of all the movies and TV shows I have worked on here for the Air Force during the past 25 years, this is the one I am most proud of. It's an incredibly moving story."

Mr. Davis' and Sergeant Zapata's offices support various television and motion picture projects to give the American audience a greater awareness of the military and its missions. 

"This movie offered us the opportunity to show the audience the importance of strategic airlift and the professionalism of our Airmen as they care for one another," Mr. Davis said. "For 'Taking Chance,' the audience will see that freedom is not free and that our young military men and women face inherent dangers every day in maintaining the freedoms they themselves inherited and are willing to sacrifice for."

The Air Force, Marine, Navy and Army liaison offices continue to support motion picture and TV productions to increase public awareness.

"It gives the DOD an opportunity to reach an incredibly large audience," Gunnery Sergeant Zapata said. "It's important for the American people to see what their military does. The more they understand our missions, capabilities and the honor, courage and commitment that go into our service, the better." 

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