Talk:Chance Phelps

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article was nominated for deletion on 7 April 2007. The result of the discussion was keep.

This article is within the scope of the Military history WikiProject. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see lists of open tasks and regional and topical task forces. To use this banner, please see the full instructions.

Start This article has been rated as Start-Class on the quality scale.

Additional information and associated task forces:

	This article has been checked against the following criteria for B-Class status: Referencing and citation: not checked Coverage and accuracy: not checked Structure: not checked Grammar: not checked Supporting materials: not checked To fill out this checklist, please add the following to the template call: `<!-- B-Class-1. It is suitably referenced, and all major points have appropriate inline citations. -->` `\|B-Class-1=yes/no` `<!-- B-Class-2. It reasonably covers the topic, and does not contain obvious omissions or inaccuracies. -->` `\|B-Class-2=yes/no` `<!-- B-Class-3. It has a defined structure, including a lead section and one or more sections of content. -->` `\|B-Class-3=yes/no` `<!-- B-Class-4. It is free from major grammatical errors. -->` `\|B-Class-4=yes/no` `<!-- B-Class-5. It contains appropriate supporting materials, such as an infobox, images, or diagrams. -->` `\|B-Class-5=yes/no`
Associated task forces (general topics):
	Military biography task force
Associated task forces (nations and regions):
	United States military history task force

This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography. For more information, visit the project page.

Biography Portal

Start

This article has been rated as Start-Class on the project's quality scale. [FAQ]

This article is supported by the Military work group.

	This article is part of WikiProject Wyoming, a WikiProject related to the U.S. state of Wyoming.
Start	This article has been rated as start-Class on the assessment scale.

[edit] Rank & Awards

I have been changing the introduction rank of Chance Phelps to Lance Corporal and a few people have been repeatedly changing it back to Private First Class. Just an explanation as to why I have listed LCPL, as opposed to PFC: Technically at his death he WAS a LCPL, but he was in fact still wearing PFC rank. During the commotion caused by his unit deploying and conducting operations, the promotion had not yet caught up with him, and therefore, he had not yet been 'pinned' and his unit had not yet processed the promotion. After he died, he was officially promoted. But either way, he is, was, and will forever be a Lance Corporal in the USMC, so his introductory rank should be listed as such. Open for discussion, especially if there is a USMC regulation that states otherwise.

Also, I was recently corrected on his Sea Service Deployment ribbon, and I stand corrected: he was awarded this ribbon. But someone also removed LCPL Phelps Good Conduct Medal. I was informed by various Marines that Good Conduct Medals are awarded posthumously if Marines have no disciplinary action baring them from such an award. Anyone know if this is true?

Thanks for the help...

[edit] More on Above

Did some research after I wrote what's above, and this is what I found, from the criteria for award of the Good Conduct Medal, under the 'SERVICE' section:

3. For first award only, the MCGCM may be awarded, provided conduct requirements are met, to the next of kin in those cases where service member is killed in combat action against an opposing armed force, or dies as a direct result of wounds received in combat action against an opposing armed force, or dies in the line of duty where such death was directly related to actions against the enemy. In addition, for the first award only, the MCGCM is authorized for individuals who are separated from the naval service for physical disability as a result of wounds incurred in combat action against an opposing armed force, or in the line of duty where such wounds resulted directly from action against the enemy, provided conduct requirements are met. For first award only, next of kin of Prisoners of War also would be eligible to receive the MCGCM if the service member’s demise occurs while in a POW status, provided it has been determined that conduct while in POW status was acceptable.

The 'CONDUCT' section (refered to in sentance 1, above) states that the awardee can not have any disciplinary action prior to the awarding of the medal.

See: http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navawards/blmarinegoodconduct.htm

So, in summation, it says it can be awarded to next of kin when killed in action. I will re-verify with LCPL Phelps' mother and father about this award.

As far as I know, he was not offered this award, because he was awared the Bronze Star, which takes precedence. Additionally, the BS was awarded to him rather quickly, but at the time of the dedication of the mess hall on 29Palms in his name, a MCGCM was not listed in his biography when the SS was. It seems very unlikely that he would be given the lesser award Several years after he was awarded the higher one. As far as his rank goes, it seems someone found a compromise: to list him as a PFC and note the posthumous promotion; to which I agree. If retired Marines are referred to by the highest rank held, why not fallen Marines (though one could question if he ever "held" the rank due to his death before his promotion). But as far as I can tell, he was not pending a promotion at the time of his death; rather, it smells like it was pushed through as an honor. Bahamut0013 17:41, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fred Phelps

Just wanted to make sure nobody thinks Chance thinks he's related to that maniac. I'm glad they didn't show up at his funeral either. Bahamut0013 22:11, 3 August 2007 (UTC)