The Salt Lake City Fisher House is proud to be the first House nationwide to be dedicated in memory of Chance Phelps, a fallen United States Marine.
Pfc. Chance Phelps, (July 14, 1984 – April 9, 2004) of Dubois, Wyoming and Clifton, Colorado, was killed in action in Al Anbar, Iraq on April 9, 2004. He was with the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force with Twenty Nine Palms, California. He was posthumously awarded LCpl.
Chance, the son of Gretchen Mack and stepson of Jeff Mack, of Dubois, Wyoming, and son of John Phelps, of Cody, Wyoming, was the fallen Marine featured in the HBO television movie TAKING CHANCE starring Kevin Bacon.
Chance was killed in action at approximately 15:30 on April 9, 2004 (Good Friday), outside Ar Ramadi, Iraq. His unit was conducting convoy escort, which included the assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division, Brigadier General John F. Kelly when they came under heavy small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Despite being wounded, he refused to be evacuated, manning his machine gun to cover the evacuation of the rest of his convoy. Upon withdrawal, he sustained his fatal wound to the head.
In his honor the Chance Phelps Foundation has been established to support and honor our nation’s military personnel. The Chance Phelps Foundation coordinates assistance hosts special events, including week-long mountain camps for military personnel and their families. For more information regarding the Chance Phelps Foundation please visit http://www.chancephelps.org/index.htm.