Chance Phelps

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Chance Russell Phelps
Purple Heart Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Chance Russell Phelps (July 14, 1984 – April 9, 2004) was a

1st Marine Division, and I Marine Expeditionary Force, during Operation Iraqi Freedom
.

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.

Biography

Phelps was born in Riverton, Wyoming, moved to Craig, Colorado as a young boy, and then again to Clifton, Colorado where he graduated from Palisade High School in 2003.

He was motivated to join the Marines by the events of

recruit training at MCRD San Diego, he attended artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma
. He was finally assigned to 3/11, with which he deployed in February 2004.

Death

Phelps was

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.[3]

Honors

Phelps was buried in

mess hall at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms was dedicated Phelps Hall,[8]
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.

Awards

Phelps' awards include:[9]

V
Bronze star
Valor device
 Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
 National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

Media attention

Phelps was the subject of a video segment originally broadcast on the

PBS ran a segment on Phelps' journey home as part of their Operation Homecoming documentary in the America at a Crossroads series on April 16, 2007.[11]

Taking Chance

An HBO movie based on Strobl's essay of the same name.

References

  1. ^ Philip Ewing. "Kevin Bacon tapped to play Marine officer again". Army Times.
  2. ^ Run4Chance Bio Archived 2007-08-30 at the Wayback Machine, letter from BGen Kelley to LtCol Strobl
  3. ISBN 0-553-80402-2
    .
  4. ^ Strobl (ret), LtCol Michael. "Taking Chance". Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  5. ^ "Taking Chance by LtCol Michael Strobl (ret)".
  6. ^ "KMIR6 NBC story on Taking Chance". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  7. ^ "Phelps Field".
  8. ^ "Phelps Hall".
  9. ^ "Awards Reference". Archived from the original on 2018-09-22. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  10. ^ "A Fallen Son". PBS. Archived from the original on 2014-01-15. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  11. ^ "Operation Homecoming: Taking Chance".[permanent dead link]

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chance_Phelps&oldid=1192517772"