Antonio Joseph Fonseca

Antonio J Fonseca was born in New Bedford,Mass to Portuguese immigrants. He was raised by a single mother amongst the hardships of that time. He dropped out of school after the 8th grade to go to work to help support the family. At 17 he joined the Army and was sent to Korea. Once they discovered he was underage to be in a combat zone he was transfer to Germany to finish his enlistment. At the end of his enlistment he returned home only to discover no jobs and little opportunity. He re-enlisted and was sent back to Germany for a second tour where he met and married my mother. He and my mother traveled many places and had many adventures in Europe. My sister and I came soon after.

At the compilation of his tour he returned stateside to continue his Army career. In 1964 he volunteered for a new Army concept Division called the 11th air assault which became the 1st Air Cav. After completing jump school he join the Cav. In 1965 the Cav was sent Vietnam (as depicted in the movie with Mel Gibson’s We were Solders) Dad was friends with several of the men who died at the battle of landing zone X-ray. He became life long friends with colonel Hal Moore and sgt major Plumley.

At the end of his tour he returned home and became a recruiter in Troy NY, several years later he ended up with the Cav at Fort Hood Texas. He became a member of the bases skydiving team and traveled the country doing skydiving demonstrations as the team photographer. He always let me hang out with him at the club. I was there so much the men forgot I was there and considered me more as a mascot. Most of these men were just returning from Vietnam and I listen to all their stories. My dad would often tell me not to tell my mother what I heard and saw or I wouldn’t be able to hang out anymore. By the time I was 12 I could tell you everything about parachuting. When there was an open seat on the helo my dad got permission for me to ride while they made their jumps.

My dad had a strong moral out look on life. During an attack on his base in Vietnam he received a shrapnel wound from a mortar. After leaving the field hospital to return to his unit he learned his CO put him in for a Purple Heart. Dad stopped the citation from being sent up the chain of command because the wounded soldiers he saw at the aid station where so injured they would never return to duty. He felt his injury was insignificant since he was still whole and for him to receive a medal would be an insult to those men who where “truly wounded” .

After he retired after 20 years of service he got a job in Austin doing background investigations for an insurance company. He also started his own business making plaques and sport photography which he continued to do into his 80s.

His hobbies included archery, bowling, woodworking and traveling. Every year even into his 80s he would drive around the us for military reunions and vacation, driving to Cali and Florida several times...life to him was a never ending adventure and he would try anything. Dad is survived by 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He now joins my mother who passed last year, may god bless you both.

I will miss his war time stories and experiences even though I’ve heard them a million times. I have so many stories about him and his adventures it would take a book to write them all down.

We love you and will miss you.

Lovingly your children,,

Tony, Diana, and Susie