Blackfive: Taking Chance Home
Blackfive posts a letter from Marine LTC Strobl outlining his experiences and emotions at escorting the body of Marine LCPL Chance Phelps to his home in Dubois, Wyoming.
From Dover to Philadelphia; Philadelphia to Minneapolis; Minneapolis to Billings; Billings to Riverton; and Riverton to Dubois we had been together. Now, as I watched them carry him the final 15 yards, I was choking up. I felt that, as long as he was still moving, he was somehow still alive.
Then they put him down above his grave. He had stopped moving.
Although my mission had been officially complete once I turned him over to the funeral director at the Billings airport, it was his placement at his grave that really concluded it in my mind. Now, he was home to stay and I suddenly felt at once sad, relieved, and useless.
Comments
OK. Wow, I am humbled.....However, I must Add a few comments. Northwest Airlines seems to hire a lot of military (especailly Marine) leaning people. I have found that all of my Northwest travels have resulted in nothing but respect for my past service to this country.
They may be more expensive to fly, but they understand "duty, honor and counry".
Posted by: Keith Nolan | May 1, 2004 03:23 AM
I was pleased to see LTC Strobl's story. I am proud of what he and many others like him have been doing. I am also glad to see that someone has taken the time to explain what we do here at Dover and why we have the media blackout, so that we can preserve the dignity of our fallen brothers and sisters, while preparing them to be returned to their families. My hat goes off to LTC Strobl, and everyone else who wears a uniform to serve our country.
Posted by: SSgt Paul Osborn | May 3, 2004 11:07 AM