Taking Chance is a 2009 historical drama based upon the experiences of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl (Kevin Bacon) escorting the body of a Marine, PFC Chance Phelps (posthumously promoted to LCpl), back to his hometown from the Iraq War. The film was selected for showing at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and premiered on HBO on February 21, 2009.
＂護送錢斯＂為2009年由美國海軍陸戰隊軍官麥可˙史托伯中校(由凱文貝肯飾演)護送不幸在伊拉克陣亡的海軍陸戰隊一兵錢斯˙菲爾普斯(身後追授伍長階)返鄉下葬的真人真事所改編的歷史劇。該劇榮幸獲選參加2009年日舞影展，並於該年2月19日由HBO頻道首映。
Chance Russel Phelps (July 14, 1984 – April 9, 2004) was a Private First Class(posthumously promoted to Lance Corporal) in the United States Marine Corps who served with 2nd Platoon, Battery L, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment (3/11), 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
錢斯˙羅素˙菲爾普斯，生於1984年7月14日，卒於2004年4月9日。生前為美國海軍陸戰隊第一遠征軍第一師第11團第三營L砲兵連第二排一兵，身後追授伍長。
Chance Russel Phelps
錢斯˙羅素˙菲爾普斯
July 14, 1984 – April 9, 2004 (得年19歲)
Phelps was killed in Iraq as the convoy he was escorting came under heavy fire. His story is the subject of an HBO movie, Taking Chance.
菲爾普斯於伊拉克服役期間，擔任護送車隊的任務並遭到強大敵火伏擊而殉職。他的身後事被HBO頻道搬上大螢幕，成為佳片＂護送錢斯＂。
Phelps was killed in action at approximately 13:30 on April 9, 2004 (Good Friday), outside Ar Ramadi, Iraq . Phelps's unit was conducting convoy escort (including the assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division, Brigadier General John F. Kelly) when they came under heavy small arms fire, including rocket propelled grenades. Despite being wounded, he refused to be evacuated, and instead manned his M240 machine gun (also reported to have been a M2 .50 caliber machine gun) to cover the evacuation of the rest of his convoy. Upon withdrawal, he sustained his fatal wound to the head.
菲爾普斯大約在2004年4月9日中午1點30分左右，於伊拉克阿爾˙拉瑪迪地區不幸殉職；剛好那天是耶穌受難日。菲爾普斯所部當時擔任引導並戒護軍方高層的巡視車隊時，遭到嚴重並強大的敵火襲擊(車隊中有美國陸戰第一師副指揮官約翰˙凱利准將)，敵方甚至以火箭槍榴彈發射器攻擊車輛。
菲爾普斯當時已經負傷，但是不肯撤退，依舊頑強以M240機槍(有一說是.50重機槍；可見當時戰況危急而混亂)對敵方發射，壓制敵方火力，同時替同袍與長官爭取撤退與轉進的時間與機會。最後部隊撤退時，發現菲爾普斯業已因為頭部負傷而不幸陣亡，時年19歲。
Phelps was buried in Dubois, Wyoming on April 17, 2004. His remains were escorted home by LtCol Michael Strobl, whose accounts of the escort were recorded in an article he wrote entitled "Taking Chance". In attendance were his parents, stepparents, sister, the Chief of Naval Intelligence (for whom his sister was an aide), and every veterans organization within 90 miles (140 km). Several days later, a memorial service was held in Camp Ramadi , Iraq , by his unit. Some time after that, Chance was officially awarded a posthumous promotion to Lance Corporal. Approximately the same time, a baseball field constructed in Camp Ramadi was dedicated Phelps Field. In mid-2005, a mess hall at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms was dedicated Phelps Hall, with his citation posted on a boulder in front. Phelps is also memorialized by a rock garden at the 3/11 office and at the Dubois VFW post, as well as a plaque that travels with Battery L wherever it deploys and a battery mascot named after the Marine.
Phelps's awards include(錢斯伍長的授勳):
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal National Defense Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
我雖然痛恨美國的外交政策，但是我崇拜美國軍人奮戰不懈的精神。
同樣是19歲，有的還在叛逆的階段，有的還在渾渾噩噩，錢斯卻以19歲的英年歲月，在遭到伏擊後，以機槍掩護同袍撤退，替同袍爭取機會與安全，寫下犧牲小我完成大我的典範，特此為誌。
附註：
我是後來才看到維基上面有中文內容，不過第一，老子的英語能力已經不需要再參考中文內容。第二，中文內容的水準之爛的讓我忍不住去修改它；對岸腦殘者都是以翻譯軟體進行潤飾的，這種狗屎只會污衊殉職官兵的英名。
追記：
"TAKING CHANCE"在英文中有著另一個含意，"把握當下"，或是"把握機會"。
星期二有幸看到HBO再一次播映這部電影，在片中看到與每一個與護送軍官史托伯的人，不管是聊上幾句話也好，甚至只是路過，連話都談不到也罷，這些人都對在戰場上犧牲的將士表達最簡單也最深沉的致敬。
有的是在簡短的言語中表達尊敬。
有的是在試圖超越送葬隊伍時，看到覆蓋國旗的棺材，放棄超車，放慢車速，打開大燈，最後以護送棺木的車輛為中心，變成一支護送的車龍。
看到最後，才知道錢斯是在一個雖然複雜但是溫馨與關懷加倍濃厚的家庭環境下長大的。
.........................................
我不知道台灣有沒有人有這樣的生長背景，但我敢說：
台灣教育不出像錢斯這樣的青年，更訓練不出這樣明明當天輪休卻志願跟著同袍出勤，最後為掩護夥伴到最後一刻的英勇士兵。
光是看到一般的送葬隊伍，都沒有人稍微表達一下默哀(不管是實際作為還是內心的糾結也罷)，或是讓出車道好讓送葬隊伍先行離開的行為............
惻隱之心，在這片土地上已蕩然無存！！
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