Strobl Taking Chance Analysis

People often misunderstand the meaning of respect. The word’s Latin root, respectus, simply means to acknowledge (“What is Respect?”). Therefore, to respect something is just to validate something’s existence. In Taking Chance, Lt. Col. Mike Strobl learns how impactful respect is, despite its simple definition.
In spite of never actually meeting PFC Chance Phelps, Lt. Col. Strobl develops a deep respect for PFC Phelps, who died protecting his comrades in Iraq. Along with Chance’s body, Strobl must deliver Chance’s last possessions. Through these possessions (a cross, a watch, a Saint Christopher medal, and dog tags), Strobl feels a connection to Chance. Lt. Col. Strobl spends every night respecting Chance’s possessions by considering the importance …show more content…
Before Lt. Col. Strobl arrives at Dover Port Mortuary, military service workers are already doing their best to honor Chance by preparing his body for the funeral. They perfect Chance’s uniform, even though they know he will not be viewed. The workers more than adequately do their jobs because they see that Chance truly deserves to be honored for his service. Understanding the magnitude of importance in something is another form of respect. Lt. Col. Mike Strobl tells his family he is becoming an escort because Chance is from Strobl’s hometown. Later Strobl realizes that he first wanted to escort because he felt guilty for staying with his family when all his friends went to war. Self-respect is achieved by one acknowledging problems with oneself. When Strobl has personal confliction about not truly being a marine, a veteran exclaims, “And you think you're not? Want to be with your family every night—you think you have to justify that? You'd better stop right there, sir. You've brought Chance home. You're his witness now. Without a witness, they just disappear” (). At this point, Strobl gains a new respect for Chance. Without people fighting for the country like Chance, Strobl might not have the ability to choose to stay home with his family. Those fighters can “disappear” if they are not respected—if their protection of rights is not honored—if their service is not remembered. No one automatically has respect for something; respect must be forged with time. Correspondingly, respect must also be earned, and PFC Chance Phelps has definitely earned his respect. The second platoon commander shows how much respect he has when he says, “...please know that Chance died a hero, but more importantly, he lived a hero. It's ironic, but I am certain that if the world had more men like Chance Phelps there wouldn't be a need for a marine