ROBERT D. FONTENOT, LTJG, USN

Robert Fontenot '53

Date of birth: March 9, 1930

Date of death: January 17, 1955

Age: 24

Lucky Bag

From the 1953 Lucky Bag:

ROBERT DALE FONTENOT

Eunice, Louisiana

Robert Dale came to the Severn Shores after a two year interval at Louisiana State University. At Navy, Dale showed his strong determination and even stronger perseverance; because of those two factors he came out on top of all of his undertakings. Sportsically Dale showed an active interest in gymnastics, football, and basketball. His interests were not confined to athletics alone but were equally shared by aviation; and it was in aviation he decided to serve the Navy after graduation. The fellah's personality had a warm fresh appeal which made him a favorite in bull sessions; his will to win made him tops as a leader.

He was also a member of the 5th Battalion staff for the fall set and the 18th Company staff for the spring set.

ROBERT DALE FONTENOT

Eunice, Louisiana

Robert Dale came to the Severn Shores after a two year interval at Louisiana State University. At Navy, Dale showed his strong determination and even stronger perseverance; because of those two factors he came out on top of all of his undertakings. Sportsically Dale showed an active interest in gymnastics, football, and basketball. His interests were not confined to athletics alone but were equally shared by aviation; and it was in aviation he decided to serve the Navy after graduation. The fellah's personality had a warm fresh appeal which made him a favorite in bull sessions; his will to win made him tops as a leader.

He was also a member of the 5th Battalion staff for the fall set and the 18th Company staff for the spring set.

Loss

Robert was lost when his jet training aircraft crashed near Corpus Christi on January 17, 1955.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Robert graduated from St. Michael’s High School in Crowley, Louisiana, in 1947 as its class president.
He attended Louisiana State University for two years before receiving his appointment to the Naval Academy. At LSU he was a member of Pershing Rifles and The Newman Club. During the intervening summers, he played club baseball.
After graduating from the Naval Academy and a tour of duty aboard the Carrier USS Midway, he was assigned first to Pensacola and then to Corpus Christi.
Robert married Joanne Maria Tartarella on February 6, 1954, in the chapel at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. His best man was his Naval Academy roommate, Lt. Edward Ervin Vigee. Their daughter Lisa Michele was born November 13, 1954. Joanne remarried in August 1957 to Donivan Frey, and she died in 1980.
Robert’s father Sidney was a sales manager at the River Brand Rice Mill. His mother was a writer for The New Era newspaper and an author of many books.
Robert’s pallbearers included his roommates Lt. Vigee and Lt. J. J. Connelly.
From The Eunice News, January 20, 1955:

Comment Ca Va - - - by Matt Vernon.
Seldom has there been such universal mourning for any individual as this community is experiencing this week, upon receiving the tragic news of Dale Fontenot’s death. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the parents of this fine lad, who have suffered such a cruel blow.
The few occasions I had to know Dale left me with the impression that he was of the finest. And many local residents who have known him all his life have attested to his sterling qualities. We observed all during World War II, and since, that we have lost through training accidents some of the best boys this country has ever produced.
This youngster wanted to fly from the time he was big enough to reach the pedals on a plane, and he was flying before he was old enough for a license. He belonged to that age, and was a true product of it.
Like many another, he gave his life for something far greater than himself. This country owes its security, its dominance of the air, to young men who have taken the risks that we might live safely, and with freedom.
When you see those jets streaming across the skies, think about Dale and that great fraternity of young heroes, for their monument must be our eternal gratitude.

He was also survived by his parents and two sisters. Robert is buried in Louisiana.