Memorial

Jacques J. Fontan

Specialty:
Navy SEAL
fontan purple heart bronze star
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.
Memorials: Please visit www.sealteam8.com/memorial.htm
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