Corporal Phelps was a medic with the Medical Company, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was Killed in Action while tending his wounded comrades near Yulgak, South Korea on 24 September 1950.

Phelps was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.