chance phelps

Official photo Place of birth Riverton, Wyoming Place of death Ar Rumadi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq Place of burial Dubois, Wyoming Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Marine Corps Years of service 2003-2004 Rank Lance Corporal, posthumous Unit 3rd Battalion 11th Marines Battles/wars Iraq War

*Battle of Ramadi

*Operation Vigilant Resolve Awards Bronze Star

Purple Heart

Chance Russel Phelps (July 14, 1984 – April 9, 2004) was a Private First Class (posthumously promoted to Lance Corporal)[1] 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 killed in Iraq as the convoy he was escorting came under heavy fire. His story is the subject of an HBO movie, Taking Chance. Contents [hide] 1 Biography 2 Death 3 Honors 3.1 Awards 4 Media attention 5 See also 6 References 7 External links //

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 made a decision to join the Marines motivated by the events of September 11, 2001. After attending boot camp 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 killed in action at approximately 13:30 on April 9, 2004 (Good Friday), outside Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Phelps's unit was conducting convoy escort (including the assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division, Brigadier General John F. Kelly[2]) when they came under heavy small arms fire, including rocket propelled grenades. Despite being wounded, he refused to be evacuated, and instead manned his M240 machine gun (alternatively reported by LtCol Michael Strobl to have been a .50 caliber heavy 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 Dubois, Wyoming 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".[4][5][6] In attendance were his parents, stepparents, sister, the Chief of Naval Intelligence (for whom his sister was an aide), and every veterans organization within 90 miles (140 km). Several days later, a memorial service was held in Camp Ramadi, Iraq, by his unit. Some time after that, Chance was officially awarded a posthumous promotion to Lance Corporal. Approximately the same time, a baseball field constructed in Camp Ramadi was dedicated Phelps Field.[7] In mid-2005, a 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.