Kara Fontenot, widow of Lt. Col. Morris “Moose” Fontenot, Jr., addresses the memorial service for her late husband at the Barnes Air National Guard Base yesterday. (Photo by MSgt. Aaron Smith, Public Affairs, 102nd Intelligence Wing)
WESTFIELD – The bagpipes pierced the air at Barnes Air National Guard Base yesterday, as guardsmen, family, and local, state and federal dignitaries paid their respects to Lt. Col. Morris “Moose” Fontenot, Jr.
Fontenot, who died last week when his F-15C Eagle fighter jet crashed near Deerfield Valley, Virginia, had served as wing inspector general for the Air National Guard 104th Fighter Wing and was remembered by those who knew him best during his short tenure in Westfield.
Fontenot’s wife Kara and daughters Natalie and Nicole were present, along with his extended family. Fontenot’s daughters were presented with their father’s Award of Meritorious Service.
Guardsmen of the 104th Fighter Wing stand at attention as the procession carrying the family of Lt. Col. Morris “Moose” Fontenot, Jr. arrives at the hangar at the Barnes Air National Guard Base yesterday. (Photo: MSgt. Aaron Smith, Public Affairs, 102nd Intelligence Wing)
Fontenot served as a squadron commander at multiple locations and served active duty assignments in Washington D.C., Japan, Idaho, Florida, Alaska and several deployments to the Middle East before he joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard in February 2014.
“This has been the most difficult week of my Air Force career, losing a friend and brother-in-arms to such a tragedy affects me to the core,” said Col. James Keefe, who remembered Fontenot as an officer whose ‘future was limitless.’ “In his own words taken from his application for an inspector job, ‘My goal is to stay in the military as long as I can and keep contributing in any way that I can.'”
“He was a remarkable officer with unlimited potential,” remarked Keefe, who listed Fontenot’s awards and accolades, which included the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, and Combat Readiness Medal.
“His coworkers will tell you his demonstration of loyalty, devotion to duty and true patriotism were unlike any other.” said Keefe, who also spoke of Fontenot’s tenure as an Air Force legislative liaison and congressional fellow for former Congressman Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, where he made “countless contributions to the greater good of the Air Force and this nation.”
Described by Lt. Col. Jeff Blake as a real “fighter pilot’s fighter pilot”, Fontenot registered 2,363 hours in flight, including 240 hours of combat during his career, which began following his high school graduation in 1992, when he was selected to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduating in 1996.
“Moose’s career is full of accomplishments and dedication to his family and fellow fighter pilots,” said Blake. “Leadership like Lt. Col. Fontenot’s is not taught – his leadership is in the fiber of a man.”
Brig. Gen. Robert Brooks stated that while he didn’t know Lt. Col. Fontenot personally, after talking to his many friends and fellow pilots, Fontenot’s memory brought to mind a bible verse, Proverbs 25:17.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,” Brooks quoted. “I’m sure every pilot in the 104th Fighter Wing and many of you in the audience felt sharpened by Moose and just as you were sharpened by him in his life, I have been sharpened by him in his death.”
Brooks said it was evident to him that Moose made an impact in a short amount of time.
“In a day when people want something for nothing, it is crystal clear that Moose was a great American and wanted nothing despite giving his all,” said Brooks. “I suspect Moose would challenge you and tell all of you to get back on the horse, get back in the Eagle, do it right, and continue to prepare for the next conflict.”
Maj. Gen. Scott Rice spoke of Fontenot’s death as a tragedy, the type that “doesn’t get any easier.”
“I’ve done this several times now in my short command, and we’ve lost some of the warriors in our midst,” he said.
“(Being a) fighter pilot is an attitude… a man who is in love with flying, who sees not the cloud but beauty. He is a man who wants to be second-best to no one,” said Rice. “Moose may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.”
Col. Alex Haldopoulos, commander of operations for the 104th, spoke passionately of his admiration for the strength and courage of the Fontenot family.
“I know this has not been easy for you today, but your presence at this ceremony means so much to me and the men and women of this Wing,” he said. “I’m sure Moose is looking down on us just a bit humbled by this amazing turnout.”
Haldopoulos looked back to when Fontenot arrived in Westfield, less three years before he would qualify for a full retirement.
It was a move Haldopoulos said sent “shockwaves throughout the active duty world”, for Fontenot had the Air Force “in the palm of his hand”, but decided to give the Air National Guard a shot.
“He was promised very little, hired to fill a government service position as a technician, to lead the Wing’s new Air Force inspection program,” he said. “We were thrilled for the opportunity to call Moose a Barnestormer. Long live the legend of Lt. Col. Morris ‘Moose’ Fontenet, Jr.”
Fontenot’s wife Kara spoke of meeting her husband as fourth class cadets at the Air Force Academy. She was 17 at the time and being verbally attacked for her poorly shined boots when the 19-year old Fontenot came to her rescue.
“Without hesitation, he rushed to my side, bringing the attack upon himself,” she said. “Once our attackers finally left, he took me into a private room and comforted me and polished my boots for me.”
Fontenot said she knew her husband for 22 years, and had been married for 18 before his passing.
“I loved him, trusted him and respected him and I will remember him forever,” she said before reflecting on his attitude toward his job. “He wasn’t a box-checker or a square-filler. He focused on the things that mattered most, and was the first to sacrifice when sacrifice was required.”
Kara Fontenot thanked the 104th Fighter Wing for honoring her husband and embracing her family. She then spoke directly to her teen-aged daughters, reminding them that “Daddy” would always be with them.
“You were more important to him than anything else, including his Air Force career and flying F-15’s,” she said. “He will live on inside of you, and during the moments when you’re hurt, sad, tired or afraid, but you go on anyway… that will be your dad there, being strong inside of you.”
Fontenot then stated how she’ll remember her husband.
“That he had one goal that remained the same over all the years I knew him – he wanted to make the greatest possible difference in the lives of the greatest possible number of people,” she said. “He knew how to make each person he interacted with feel loved and special. That is his legacy to us.”
Lt. Col. Fontenot will be buried in early October at his alma mater, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
