John M. Fontenot

Company B 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

4th Infantry Division

KIA 11/20/1944

John Milton Fontenot was born in Oberlin, Allen Parish, Louisiana on October 8, 1919.

Prior to entering military service he was employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps
in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.

He was drafted into the Army on May 29, 1941, at Jacksonville Army Air Force Base, Jacksonville, Florida.
His home of residence was listed as St. Landry Parish, Louisiana and his civilian occupation was listed
as Unskilled Sawmill Occupations. He had completed two years of High School and was single
with no dependents. His religion was listed as Catholic.

The date of his assignment to the 22nd Infantry is unknown but he was serving as a
Private with Company B 22nd Infantry at least by 1942-1943 as he is in a Company
photo taken at Camp Gordon, Georgia during that time frame.

He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal as a Private First Class in Headquarters 22nd Infantry Motorized
General Orders No. 5 dated 8 June 1943 at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

At some time he was promoted to Sergeant, but was reduced to the rank of Private
on August 16, 1944.

He was promoted to Private First Class on October 17, 1944.

Private First Class Fontenot was killed in action in Germany during the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest
on November 20, 1944.

Decorations of John M. Fontenot

John M. Fontenot was buried in the temporary U.S. Military Cemetery,
Henri-Chapelle Cemetery, Eupen, Belgium and some time later
his remains were returned to the United States where he was
reinterred in Louisiana.

Burial:
Saint Paul Cemetery
Eunice
St. Landry Parish
Louisiana

Grave marker for John M. Fontenot

Photo by Bobby from the Find A Grave website

Top photo of John M. Fontenot as a Private with Company B 22nd Infantry
taken at Camp Gordon, Georgia circa 1942-1943 from the webmaster's collection

BACK