Frederick Phelps was the son of Otto and Elsie Phelps. He graduated from Colesburg (Iowa) High School in 1956. He earned nursing degrees from the Finley School of Nursing in Dubuque (1959) and the University of Iowa (1962). In 1962 he married Ellen Kuhn. While attending the University of Iowa Frederick began his nursing career at the Veterans' Hospital. He later became the first male nursing instructor at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois. While working in Quincy Frederick was drafted. He received his basic training at Ft. Sam Houston and arrived in Vietnam on July 4, 1967, assigned to the 616th Medical Clearing Company at Camp Radcliff, An Khe, Vietnam.
From the description of Frederick O. Phelps papers and audio tapes, 1967-1968. (Iowa Sate Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 71827308
