# Chance Phelps > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chance_Phelps > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chance_Phelps.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chance_Phelps > Source revision: 1353524864 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|United States Marine}} {{Infobox military person |name= Chance Russell Phelps |birth_date= {{birth date|1984|7|14}} |death_date= {{death date and age|2004|4|9|1984|7|14}} |birth_place= [Riverton, Wyoming](/source/Riverton%2C_Wyoming) |death_place= [Ramadi](/source/Ramadi), [Al Anbar](/source/Al_Anbar_Governorate), [Iraq](/source/Iraq) |burial_place= [Dubois, Wyoming](/source/Dubois%2C_Wyoming) |burial_label= Place of burial |image= Phelpschance.jpg |caption= Official photo |allegiance= {{flag|United States}} |branch= {{marines|United States}} |service_years= 2003–2004 |rank= 15px [Lance Corporal](/source/Lance_Corporal) (posthumous [promotion](/source/promotion_(rank))) |unit=[3rd Battalion 11th Marines](/source/3rd_Battalion_11th_Marines) |battles= '''[Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War)''' {{KIA}}
* [Battle of Ramadi](/source/Battle_of_Ramadi_(2004))
* [Operation Vigilant Resolve](/source/First_Battle_of_Fallujah) |awards= [Bronze Star Medal](/source/Bronze_Star_Medal)
[Purple Heart Medal](/source/Purple_Heart_Medal)
[Combat Action Ribbon](/source/Combat_Action_Ribbon)
[National Defense Service Medal](/source/National_Defense_Service_Medal)
[Global War on Terrorism Service Medal](/source/Global_War_on_Terrorism_Service_Medal) }} '''Chance Russell Phelps''' (July 14, 1984 – April 9, 2004) was a [Private First Class](/source/private_first_class) in the [United States Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps), posthumously [promoted](/source/promotion_(rank)) to [Lance Corporal](/source/Lance_Corporal).{{Cite web|url=http://www.armytimes.com/entertainment/movies/military_baconmarine_070426w|title=Kevin Bacon tapped to play Marine officer again|author=Philip Ewing|publisher=Army Times}} He served with 2nd [Platoon](/source/Platoon), [Battery](/source/artillery_battery) L, [3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment](/source/3rd_Battalion_11th_Marines) (3/11), [1st Marine Division](/source/1st_Marine_Division_(United_States)), and [I Marine Expeditionary Force](/source/I_Marine_Expeditionary_Force), during [Operation Iraqi Freedom](/source/Iraq_War). Phelps was killed in Iraq as the convoy he was escorting came under heavy fire. His story is the subject of an [HBO](/source/HBO) movie, ''[Taking Chance](/source/Taking_Chance).'' ==Biography== Chance Russell Phelps was born on July 14, 1984 in [Riverton, Wyoming](/source/Riverton%2C_Wyoming) to John Phelps and Gretchen Mack. John served during the [Vietnam War](/source/Vietnam_War) in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) upon receiving his [draft notice](/source/Conscription_in_the_United_States), and later when he had settled in [Dubois, Wyoming](/source/Dubois%2C_Wyoming), he joined the town's [Veterans of Foreign Wars](/source/Veterans_of_Foreign_Wars).{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJFg33v1kiA |title=Her Parents Fled Vietnam. These Veterans Fought There. Now They Eat Together. |date=2025-07-05 |last=Cowboy State Daily |access-date=2025-07-28 |via=YouTube}} He moved to [Craig, Colorado](/source/Craig%2C_Colorado) as a young boy, later moving to [Clifton, Colorado](/source/Clifton%2C_Colorado), where he graduated from [Palisade High School](/source/Palisade_High_School) in 2003. Phelps was motivated to join the [Marines](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps) by the events of [September 11, 2001](/source/September_11_attacks). After attending [recruit training](/source/recruit_training) at [Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego](/source/Marine_Corps_Recruit_Depot_San_Diego), he attended artillery school at [Fort Sill](/source/Fort_Sill), [Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma). He was finally assigned to [3rd Battalion, 11th Marines](/source/3rd_Battalion%2C_11th_Marines), with which he deployed to Iraq in February 2004. ==Death== Phelps was [killed in action](/source/killed_in_action) at approximately 13:30 (1:30pm) on April 9, 2004 at the age of 19, outside [Ar Ramadi](/source/Al_Ramadi), Iraq. His unit was conducting [convoy](/source/convoy) escort (including the assistant commander of the [1st Marine Division](/source/1st_Marine_Division_(United_States)), [Brigadier General](/source/Brigadier_general_(United_States)) [John F. Kelly](/source/John_F._Kelly_(Marine))[http://www.run4chance.com/about.htm Run4Chance Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830200932/http://www.run4chance.com/about.htm |date=2007-08-30 }}, letter from BGen Kelley to LtCol Strobl) when they came under heavy [small arms](/source/small_arms) fire, including [rocket-propelled grenade](/source/rocket-propelled_grenade)s. Despite being wounded, he refused evacuation, instead manning his [M240 machine gun](/source/M240_machine_gun) (or an [M2 .50 caliber machine gun](/source/M2_Browning_machine_gun)) to cover the evacuation of the rest of his convoy. Upon withdrawal, he sustained a fatal wound to the head.{{cite book|last=West|first=Francis J.|title=No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah|publisher=[Bantam Books](/source/Bantam_Books)|location=[New York City](/source/New_York_City)|year=2006|edition=trade paperback|pages=346|chapter=Ch 16 footnote|isbn=0-553-80402-2|authorlink=Bing West}} ==Honors== Phelps was buried in [Dubois, Wyoming](/source/Dubois%2C_Wyoming), on April 17, 2004, with full military honors. His remains were escorted home by [Lt. Col](/source/Lieutenant_colonel). [Michael Strobl](/source/Michael_Strobl), whose accounts of the escort were recorded in an article he wrote titled "Taking Chance".{{cite web |url=http://www.chancephelps.org/?page_id=126 |title=Taking Chance |first=LtCol Michael |last=Strobl (ret) |access-date=2009-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217155606/http://www.chancephelps.org/?page_id=126 |archive-date=2009-02-17 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.blackfive.net/main/2004/04/taking_chance.html |title=Taking Chance by LtCol Michael Strobl (ret)}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Rl6qqPOnc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/o4Rl6qqPOnc |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=KMIR6 NBC story on Taking Chance|website=[YouTube](/source/YouTube)}}{{cbignore}} In attendance were his parents, stepparents, sister, the [Chief of Naval Intelligence](/source/Defense_Intelligence_Agency) (for whom his sister was an aide), and every veterans' organization within {{convert|90|mi|km}}. Several days later, a memorial service was held in Camp Ramadi, Iraq, by his unit. Some time after that, Phelps was officially awarded a [posthumous promotion](/source/posthumous_promotion) to Lance Corporal. A baseball field constructed in Camp Ramadi was dedicated in his memory as Phelps Field.{{cite web|url=http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ac95bc775efc34c685256ab50049d458/4c5c424a475cc9e985256fea005af28e?OpenDocument|title= Phelps Field}} In mid-2005, a [mess hall](/source/mess_hall) at [Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms](/source/Marine_Corps_Air_Ground_Combat_Center_Twentynine_Palms) was named Phelps Hall,{{cite web|url=http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ac95bc775efc34c685256ab50049d458/f15b9de64e7940498525716f000300b4?OpenDocument |title=Phelps Hall}} 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. The Theater at NMMV (National Museum of Military Vehicles) is named the Chance Phelps Theater outside Dubois, Wy. ===Awards=== Phelps' awards include:{{cite web|url=http://www.run4chance.com/lance-corporal-chance-phelps|title=Awards Reference|access-date=2009-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922173745/http://www.run4chance.com/lance-corporal-chance-phelps|archive-date=2018-09-22|url-status=dead}} {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |colspan=3|{{Ribbon devices|other_device=nv|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=U.S._Marine_Corps_Good_Conduct_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |colspan=3|[Bronze Star](/source/Bronze_Star_Medal) w/ [Valor device](/source/Valor_device) |colspan=3|[Purple Heart](/source/Purple_Heart) |- |colspan=2|[Combat Action Ribbon](/source/Combat_Action_Ribbon) |colspan=2|[Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal](/source/Marine_Corps_Good_Conduct_Medal) |colspan=2|[National Defense Service Medal](/source/National_Defense_Service_Medal) |- |colspan=2|[Iraq Campaign Medal](/source/Iraq_Campaign_Medal) |colspan=2|[Global War on Terrorism Service Medal](/source/Global_War_on_Terrorism_Service_Medal) |colspan=2|[Sea Service Deployment Ribbon](/source/Sea_Service_Deployment_Ribbon) |- | | | | | | |} ===Media attention=== Phelps was the subject of a video segment originally broadcast on the ''[News Hour with Jim Lehrer](/source/News_Hour_with_Jim_Lehrer)'' on April 20, 2004, entitled ''A Fallen Son.''{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june04/son_04-20.html|title=A Fallen Son|website=[PBS](/source/PBS)|access-date=2017-08-25|archive-date=2014-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115171845/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june04/son_04-20.html|url-status=dead}} [PBS](/source/Public_Broadcasting_Service) ran a segment on Phelps' journey home as part of their [Operation Homecoming](/source/Operation_Homecoming) documentary in the ''[America at a Crossroads](/source/America_at_a_Crossroads)'' series on April 16, 2007.{{cite web |url=http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/aed36f0e11b9b09bf81eb35c44e7bee8 |title=Operation Homecoming: Taking Chance }}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ====''Taking Chance''==== In 2009, an [HBO](/source/HBO) movie, ''[Taking Chance](/source/Taking_Chance)'', based on Strobl's essay of the same name, was released. ==References== {{Portal|Biography}} {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090122230815/http://www.chancephelps.org/ The Chance Phelps Foundation], a memorial foundation started by the Phelps family *[http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/ ''Taking Chance''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803163725/http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/ |date=2015-08-03 }} on [HBO](/source/HBO) website *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071212033456/http://www.militarycity.com/valor/257166.html Military Timicles] {{DEFAULTSORT:Phelps, Chance}} Category:1984 births Category:2004 deaths Category:United States Marines Category:American military personnel killed in the Iraq War Category:People from Riverton, Wyoming Category:People from Dubois, Wyoming Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chance Phelps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chance_Phelps) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chance_Phelps?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.