Luis Fonseca (sailor)

Luis E. Fonseca, Jr. (born 1980) is a United States Navy hospital corpsman who was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism on March 23, 2003, while assigned to a Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle platoon serving with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, during the Battle of An Nasiriyah in An Nasiriyah, Iraq. This was the first major battle fought in Iraq by the U.S Marine Corps (and U.S. Army) during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Early life and education
Fonseca was born in Frankfurt, West Germany in 1980, where his father was stationed while serving in the United States Army. When his father retired from the Army in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Fonseca and his older sister were raised there by his parents.

Although Fonseca dropped out of high school, he continued his education. Fonseca graduated with his associate degree in June 2015 and is currently working on his prerequisites for PA school.

Career
Fonseca initially wanted to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps, but decided otherwise when he discovered that they did not have a dedicated medical occupational specialty. He ultimately ended up enlisting in the U.S. Navy to become a Navy hospital corpsman in 1999, and graduated from Recruit Training Command Great Lakes in September of that year. Fonseca graduated from the Navy's Hospital Corpsman "A" School in February 2000. He was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force and graduated from the Marine Corps Field Medical Service School in May 2000. He was assigned to Company A, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, from May 2000 to August 2003, and to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (2/8), from August 2003 to July 2004. Afterwards, he served at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune from July 2004 until May 2007, and later, with the Navy's amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5).

Fonseca served two combat tours with the Marines in Iraq in 2003 and 2005, and one tour with the Marines in the War in Afghanistan from November 2003 to May 2004. On 11 August 2004, he was awarded and presented the Navy Cross for his actions in Iraq on 23 March 2003, by Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The stress of his combat tours, combined with the fame and attention received as a result of being awarded the Nation's second highest medal for valor in combat, led Fonseca to alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ultimately, his commanders intervened, and Fonseca received assistance in the form of counseling and medication, making a recovery possible. In many cases, among returning military veterans during wartime, psychological effects have much longer-lasting effects compared to physical wounds.

Navy Cross citation


"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Hospital Apprentice Luis E. Fonseca, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy while serving as Corpsman, Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, Company C., First Battalion, Second Marines, Regimental Combat Team Two, Task Force Tarawa, First Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 23 March 2003. During Company C's assault and seizure of the Saddam Canal Bridge, an amphibious assault vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade inflicting five casualties. Without concern for his own safety, Hospitalman Apprentice Fonseca braved small arms, machine gun, and intense rocket propelled grenade fire to evacuate the wounded Marines from the burning amphibious assault vehicle and tend to their wounds. He established a casualty collection point inside the unit's medical evacuation amphibious assault vehicle, calmly and methodically stabilizing two casualties with lower limb amputations by applying tourniquets and administering morphine. He continued to treat and care for the wounded awaiting evacuation until his vehicle was rendered immobile by enemy direct and indirect fire. Under a wall of enemy machine gun fire, he directed the movement of four casualties from the damaged vehicle by organizing litter teams from available Marines. He personally carried one critically wounded Marine over open ground to another vehicle. Following a deadly artillery barrage, Hospitalman Apprentice Fonseca again exposed himself to enemy fire to treat Marines wounded along the perimeter. Returning to the casualty evacuation amphibious assault vehicle, he accompanied his casualties South through the city to a Battalion Aid Station. After briefing medical personnel on the status of his patients, Hospitalman Apprentice Fonseca returned North through the city to Company C's lines and to his fellow Marines that had been wounded in his absence. His timely and effective care undoubtedly saved the lives of numerous casualties. Hospitalman Apprentice Fonseca's actions reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions to the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service."

Awards and decorations
Fonseca's awards and decorations:
 * He wore five red service stripes at his retirement ceremony.