Joseph Fontenot

Joseph “Fonty” Fontenot is a combat veteran who served 20 years in the US Army and retired as a first sergeant, with combat deployments to Abu Ghraib, Iraq, and the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan. Before enlisting in the Army, he was a successful musician who gave up his career to serve during the Global War on Terror. After his year in Afghanistan, he won Soldier of the Year in 2015. He subsequently suffered multiple career-ending injuries and, despite several years in the Warrior Transition Unit, chose to return to the 101st. Fontenot has earned a bachelor's degree in forensic psychology and does guest speaking and helps veterans’ organizations.