Michael Strobl

Last updated
Michael R. Strobl, Ph.D.
Bacon and Strobl.jpg
Michael R. Strobl and Kevin Bacon
at the premiere of Taking Chance (2009)
Bornc. 1966 (age 58–59)
Grand Junction, Colorado
Alma mater Colorado Mesa University (BBA)
Averett University (MBA)
Naval Postgraduate School (MS)
George Mason University (PhD) [1]
Military career
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Service / branchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg  United States Marine Corps
Years of service1983–2007
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Battles / wars Operation Desert Storm

Michael R. Strobl (born c. 1966) is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer from Stafford, Virginia, and is currently Assistant Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. [1] [2]

Contents

Biography

Strobl joined the service when he was 17 years old, as told in the movie Taking Chance (2009).

He holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Colorado Mesa University, a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Averett University, a Master’s of Science (MS) degree in Manpower Systems Analysis, with distinction, from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University. [2]

After serving in the Gulf War in 1991, [3] Strobl was assigned a desk-job at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia during the Iraq War.

After retiring in 2007, Strobl accepted a position as an Operations Research Analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation) at the Pentagon. While serving at CAPE, he was the lead analyst on military manpower and compensation issues as well as the Defense Health Program. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in September 2016 and served as the Deputy Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division until assuming his current position in August 2021. [2]

Chance Phelps

Strobl escorted home PFC Chance Phelps, a Marine killed in the Iraq War on April 9, 2004 (Good Friday), outside Ar Ramadi, Iraq. [4] [5]

Strobl was working at a desk-job, but volunteered to escort PFC Phelps home. [6] He initially did this because the press release concerning the death of PFC Phelps had listed Clifton, Colorado as his hometown, a town near Strobl's hometown of Grand Junction. The final destination and resting place, however, of PFC Phelps would be Dubois, Wyoming, Phelps having only lived in Clifton for his senior year of high school.

During the trip, Strobl kept a diary of the experience and his feelings. After he concluded the mission, he wrote an essay entitled "A Marine's Journey Home" from the notes in the diary and shared it with Phelps's father John. The essay appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on May 2, 2004 (with the approval of John Phelps), and then a longer version (of 5,375 words) appeared in the July issue of Marine Corps Gazette as "Taking Chance".

Strobl's 12-page narrative essay followed his journey with the remains of PFC Phelps from the military mortuary at Dover Air Force Base to Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Billings, Riverton, and Dubois.

Strobl's essay became the subject of an HBO film, Taking Chance , in 2009. [7] [8] He helped write the screenplay, and he was portrayed in the film by Kevin Bacon. [9] Subsequently, he co-won the Writers Guild of America Award in Long Form Adaptation in Television at the Writers Guild of America Awards 2009 and was co-nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Dramatic Special, both with Ross Katz. [10]

Decorations and awards

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg Combat Action Ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Combat Action Ribbon Navy Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star
Southwest Asia Service Medal Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 2 service stars Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Strobl received the Vietnam Veterans of America President's Award for Excellence in the Arts at the organization's national convention in Louisville, Kentucky in August 2009.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Rich, Colleen Kearney (November 1, 2010). "Patriot Profile: Michael Strobl". Mason Spirit. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Michael R. Strobl, Ph.D. biography" (PDF). www.secnav.navy.mil.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. ↑ Strauss, Gary (2009-02-19). "Marine officer went the distance in 'Taking Chance'". USA Today. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  4. ↑ Taking Chance Archived 2009-02-17 at the Wayback Machine by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl (ret)
  5. ↑ "Taking Chance Home". BlackFive.
  6. ↑ Foundas, Scott (Feb 18, 2009). "Coming Home: Taking Chance Writer Lt. Col. Michael Strobl and Producer-Director Ross Katz on the Iraq Movie About America". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "Chance Phelps". 27 May 2006 – via www.youtube.com.
  8. ↑ HBO Official web page for Taking Chance
  9. ↑ Shales, Tom (February 21, 2009). "HBO's 'Chance' Finely Renders Solemn Honor For Fallen Troops". TV Preview. Washington Post . Retrieved 2009-02-23.
  10. ↑ Michael Strobl at IMDb
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