Chance Phelps

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Chance R. Phelps
1985-9 April 2004
Place of birth Dubois, Wyoming
Place of death Ar Rumadi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch USMC
Years of service 2003-2004
Rank Lance Corporal, posthumous
Unit 3rd Battalion 11th Marines
Battles/wars Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon

Contents

[edit] Biography

Chance Phelps (1985 – April 9, 2004) was a Private First Class 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. Phelps was born in Dubois, Wyoming, moved to Craig, Colorodo for high school, and again to Clifton, Colorodo where he graduated high school in 2003. He made a decision to join the Marines motivated by the events of September 11, 2001. After attending recruit training (AKA boot camp) at MCRD San Diego, he attended artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and was finally assigned to 3/11, where he deployed in February of 2004. Phelps was killed in action at approx. 1330 on April 9, 2004 (Good Friday), outside Ar Rumadi, Iraq. Phelp's unit was conducting convoy escorts when they came under heavy small arms fire, as well as rocket propelled grenades. Despite being wounded, he refused to be evacuated, and instead manned his M2 .50 cal machinegun to cover the evacuation of the rest of his convoy. Upon withdrawal, he sustained his fatal wound to the head.

[edit] Honoring

Phelps was buried in Dubois 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: An Escort's Journey".[1] In attendance were his parents, step-parents, sister, the Chief of Naval Intelligence (for whom his sister was an aide), and every veterans organization within 90 miles. Several days later, a memorial service was held in Camp Rumadi, Iraq, by his unit. Some time after that, Chance was awarded a posthumous promotion to Lance Corporal. Approximately the same time, a baseball field constructed in Camp Rumadi was dedicated Phelps Field.[2] In mid-2006, the mess hall at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms was dedicated Phelps Hall,[3] 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 was also the subject of a video segment originally broadcast on News Hour With Jim Lehrer on April 20, 2004; entitled A Fallen Son[4]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ *Taking Chance by LtCol M. Strobl
  2. ^ *Phelps Field
  3. ^ *Phelps Hall
  4. ^ *[1] A Fallen Son

[edit] External links

  • Run 4 Chance, a memorial event begun by Phelp's family
  • [2] 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines home page
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