Jacques Jules Fontan Fire Controlman Chief (SEAL)

Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan was born on 11 November 1968 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette prior to enlisting in the United States Navy on 7 March 1989.

After graduating from Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, he completed Fire Controlman "A" School at Fleet Combat Training Center, Dam Neck, Virginia. Upon completion, he transferred to USS NICHOLAS (FFG 47), Charleston, South Carolina and then to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron ONE, Jacksonville, Florida. After graduating from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado, California, on 23 October 1998, Chief Fontan was assigned to SEAL Team EIGHT, Little Creek, Virginia, Naval Special Warfare Group TWO, Little Creek, Virginia, and SEAL Team TEN, Little Creek, Virginia.

During his service, Chief Fontan was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (with "V" for Valor), Purple Heart Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Combat "V"), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards), Combat Action Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Navy "E" Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (5 awards), National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Southwest Asia Service Medal (3 awards), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3 awards),
NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Expert 9MM Pistol, and Sharpshooter M4 Rifle.

Chief Fontan is survived by his parents, Earl Fontan and Hazel Rue, wife Charissa,
daughter Jourdan, brother Jean and sisters Suzanne and Cherie.

Specialty: Navy SEAL
BUD/S Class: 219
SEAL Service: 7 years
Rank: Navy Chief Petty Officer
Age: 36
Home: New Orleans, Louisiana
Assigned: SEAL Team TEN, Virginia Beach, VA
Died: June 28, 2005
Operation: Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
Details: Died while conducting combat operations, when the MH-47 helicopter that he was aboard on a rescue mission crashed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.
Awards: Bronze Star with Combat “V” for Valor, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Awarded posthumously.
Other Awards: Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/Combat “V”
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2)
Combat Action Ribbon
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
Navy “E” Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal (5)
National Defense Service Medal (2)
Southwest Asia Service Medal (3)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3)
NATO Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal
Contributions: Fontan was part of a dedicated team fighting the Taliban, a fundamentalist regime that a U.S.-led coalition knocked from power in Afghanistan in 2001, but has continued to conduct guerilla operations, particularly along the Pakistan border.
Fontan worked to help ensure al Qaeda terrorists could not train in, nor launch strikes from Afghanistan since their lethal attack on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001. Fontan was also a veteran of the first Persian Gulf war to liberate Kuwait. Fontan enlisted in the Navy in 1989, and served in the Fleet for 10 years. After graduating from BUD/S in 1998, he was assigned to SEAL Team EIGHT, Naval Special Warfare Group TWO, and SEAL Team TEN.

Jacques Fontan was one of 16 troops killed when a MH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan on June 28. They were on a daring night mission to reinforce a four- man SEAL reconnaissance squad that had been ambushed in 10,000-foot mountainous terrain.

Fontan, seven other SEALs, and eight Army commandos died in their heroic attempt to rescue their fellow SEALs. LT Michael Murphy, Matthew Axelson, and Danny Dietz fought on courageously, providing protective fire for their fourth squad member to escape, before they were killed in the fierce firefight by overwhelming Taliban forces.

A total of 11 SEALs died that day in the Global War against Terror. It was the biggest single loss of life for Naval Special Warfare forces since World War II. To a man, these SEALs embodied the Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment, and took care of their teammates to the end.

Jacques Fontan is remembered with the greatest respect and gratitude by his fellow SEALs, the Navy, and our nation.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, Louisiana.

CPO Fontan died while conducting combat operations when the MH-47 helicopter that he was aboard crashed in the vicinity of Asadabad, Afghanistan in Kumar Province. He was assigned to SEAL Team Ten, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Jacques Fontan who had ties to the First Coast will be returned here to be buried after being killed during a rescue mission in Afghanistan. The 36-year-old Navy Seal was one of eight Seals and 16 servicemen who died when their helicopter was shot down on June 28th.

Fontan's father-in-law, Mike Fletcher, who lives in Green Cove Springs is in Virginia where Navy Seals will hold a memorial ceremony on Friday.

Fontan says his son-in-law was a dedicated sailor and husband. Fletcher says of Fontan that he, "died to protect and serve his country."

"He's my baby brother, we were very close," said his sister, Suzanne Fontan Gonczy. "The family is obviously devastated."

Fontan joined the Navy 17 years ago, said his father, Earl Fontan.

He served as a fire control specialist aboard Navy fighting ships, managing electronics that controlled weapons systems, and was a veteran of the first Persian Gulf War. He was serving at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Va.

Jacques Fontan had planned to retire with his wife in Florida, his father said. "Family was important to him. On leaves, he spent them with our family _ most of which was in New Orleans, some of which now is in Atlanta," Earl Fontan said. "He was great with his niece and nephews. He delighted in playing roughhouse with them."

Fontan is survived by his wife, Char.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan was killed in action on 06/28/05.