Johnstown, NY – After waiting more than 40 years to receive official recognition for heroic military service, Joseph Fonda had a tough time waiting one more night. “He couldn’t sleep at all,” said his wife, Charlene, with a laugh.
U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty presents the Bronze Star Medal to Joseph F. Fonda in Johnstown on Friday. The Montgomery County man served heroically in the Vietnam War in 1967 and ’68. (The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan)
On Friday morning, Fonda was finally honored. At the Fulton County Office Building, U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty presented a Bronze Star Medal to Fonda as his family watched with tears in their eyes. “It is my honor to make this presentation,” McNulty said. “The Bronze Star Medal is presented to very few individuals.” The act of Congress that established the medal says it recognizes “heroic or meritorious achievement or service … in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.”
Fonda, who grew up in the village that shares his name, went to Vietnam on July 20, 1967, as part of an infantry unit. He was 17 years old. “I volunteered to draft, and I volunteered to go to Vietnam. After that, I learned not to volunteer anymore,” he said, laughing.
On Nov. 7, 1967, 4th Spc. Fonda’s unit was stationed between a cemetery and a bridge in a Vietnamese village. “When the engineers left it that night, it kept getting blown up, so we were platoons on it every night to guard it so it got built all the way,” Fonda said. Fonda’s platoon was attacked. His men moved to go past the bridge, but Fonda stayed behind to try and protect them.
“They were doing good, but I just figured that, to get it so those guys could get out of there, I had to stay there and give them cover fire until they got past the bridge,” Fonda said. Fonda remained at the site and used up all of his ammunition in order to defend his position, throwing grenades behind him to try and defend his men. He also ordered his men to evacuate a wounded soldier that night.
He left Vietnam in July 1968. Years later, Fonda had settled in Glen. His old lieutenants encouraged him to try and pursue the award. Fonda thought paperwork detailing his accomplishment that could have made him eligible for the award was lost in the Tet Offensive. “All I know is I didn’t get it,” he said. McNulty aide Terri Jasewicz said she helped Fonda put in a request for the award through the National Personnel Records Center, but she said the process was “very time consuming.” “They needed more information. They went through that four or five times,” she said.
Finally, earlier this week, Jasewicz received a call that the request was finally successful. She called Fonda immediately. Preparations were made quickly, and McNulty, D-Green Island, was able to come and present the award before he leaves office Jan. 3. “Usually, it isn’t in a circumstance like this, when the individual being honored should have been presented with the award years ago,” McNulty said.
Thankfully, Fonda said, he has family to share in his joy. “It’s kind of more scary now, when you think about it, than when I done it, because you’re younger, and you just go for it,” he said. “Later on in life, when you have kids, grandkids, you start to think about it, thinking about the guys that died that don’t have what I got. That’s the sad part.”
Fonda said he has recently noticed others taking stock of sacrifices soldiers make. On Thursday, as he was getting a haircut in Scotia before his big day, his barber noticed his jacket emblazoned with a Purple Heart logo. The two got to talking about the war, and when Fonda went to pay for his trim, his young barber told him that the service was free, thanks to the service he had provided for his country.
“It’s like everyone’s starting to realize something, getting more patriotic,” Fonda said. “And that makes me feel good. People are starting to recognize what people do in the military.” He said he would be able to move on emotionally from receiving such an honor. “It means a lot to me, but it’s not going to change my life, I know that,” Fonda said. Still, Charlene Fonda said her husband might finally get some peace. “He’s very deserving of it,” she said, dabbing away tears. “He’s waited a long, long time. I hope this puts some of it to rest.”
This is a duplicate of the listing on the fonda.org website.
Albert Dow Fonda; Dairy Farmer; Cornell University Agriculture College graduate 1917; born 9-Mar-1893 in Fonda, N.Y., died 19-Jan-1962 in Fonda, N.Y.; enlisted in U.S. Marines right after college graduation, assigned to Key West flight training school, WWI ended prior to completion; worked in New Jersey Creamery until logging accident partially disabled his father, thereupon returned home to help on the farm; continued with successful farming career, taking after his father who had farm machinery dealership and owned one of the first steam tractors in the area; believed strongly in education, sending his children to (better) neighboring Johnstown schools and supporting them all in college educations; later helped foster the Fonda-Fultonville Centralized School, crusading against local rivalries; see Stories for more…
Charles Henry Fonda; Cotton Planter; born Aug-16-1904, died Feb-9-1979 at 74 years of age; b. Memphis, Shelby Co., TN; 1930 Census, Tennessee, Shelby, Memphis, District 53; d. San Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas; bur. Tunica, Mississippi; res. Deerlake Plantation, in both Tennessee and Arkansas; graduate of Washington & Lee University.
Clinton Jesse Fonda; Dairy Farmer; born 14-Oct-1861; b. Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1870 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1880 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1930 Census, New York, Albany, Colonie, District 126; lived on old family homestead near Crescent, New York.
Douw Henry Fonda; Dairy Farmer; born 21-Jul-1809, died 11-Nov-1895 at 86 years of age; b. Caughnawaga (now Fonda), Montgomery, New York; Douw Henry and Henry Douw were twins; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Montgomery, Mohawk; 1880 United States Census, Mohawk, Montgomery, New York; Douw Henry Fonda (1809-95) owned 233 acres; he m. Ann Veeder, (1810-90) d. of Albert, son of Col. Abraham Veeder.
Douw Jellis Fonda; Dairy Farmer; see www.rootsweb.com; born 22-Aug-1700, died 22-May-1780 at 79 years of age; b. Schenectady, New York; bur. Old Caughnawaga Cemetery, Fonda, New York; moved from Schenectady, New York to Caughnawaga (now Fonda) in 1751. Douw was killed by Sir Wm. Johnson’s Indians on 22 May 1780. His house was plundered & burned, sons John & Adam were made prisoners and taken to Canada. His will was dated 16-Dec-1779, proved 13-Dec-1791. the Village of Fonda, New York was named for him; DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition; see Stories for more…
Evert Yates Fonda; Farmer; born 1824, died 1-Mar-1870 at 46 years of age; b. Fulton, Montgomery Co., New York; d. Shopiere, Rock Co., WI; migrated from New York to Wisconsin in the late 1850’s. Evert was a prosperous farmer in the Shopiere, Wisconsin area. The road south from Hodson’s mill was called “the Evert Y. Fonda road” (from “the Centennial History of the Town of Turtle, 1836-1936” by Annie McLenegan). Evert died young due to diabetes.
Jesse Abraham Fonda; Farmer, School Trustee, Overseer of Highways; born 14-Jan-1834, died 16-Dec-1891 at 57 years of age; b. and d. Watervliet, New York; bp. Boght-Becker Dutch Reformed Church, Colonie, Albany, New York; 1870 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1880 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1870 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York.
Johannes Peter Fonda; Farmer, Landowner; Captain in Revolutionary War Militia; born 12-Oct-1735; b. Albany, New York; the Fondas lived on what was called the “Flatts,” a district along the Poestenkill Creek on the east border of Troy, near the bridge crossing the creek and leading to Albany. they owned a large estate in this vicinity, over 500 acres, it is said. Where the present pond is formed by a mill dam connecting with a collar shop, was an orchard, and the house was near the present bridge. this family was one of the first settlers of Hoosick Falls, Albany Co., New York; DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition
Martin Jacob Fonda; Farmer, Civil War Soldier; born 1819, died Mar-1864 at 45 years of age; b. New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Rensselaer, Troy Ward 5; Military Record: Residence: New Chester, Wisconsin; Enlisted as a Private on 06 February 1864; Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin; Died of disease Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 26 March 1864 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Peter John Fonda; Farmer, Boatman; born 3-Jan-1778, died 14-Nov-1848 at 70 years of age; b. Caughnawaga (now Fonda), Montgomery, New York; d. Fultonville, New York; bur. Old Cemetery, Fultonville; In 1783, the Consistory met at the parsonage with Dominie Romeyn to listen to the petition of those who resided on the south side of the river to establish a free ferry to the church (DRC of Fonda). It was agreed that wood be delivered by the congregation on both sides of the river at the home of John Wemple, who consented to keep and run for the congregation, Sundays and other church days, a ferry, for those who attended church. John Fonda agreed to allow a road over his lands to the ferry. this ferry was in operation as late as 1825, when it was conducted by Peter Fonda.
Robert Mitchell Fonda; Dairy Farmer; born 15-Aug-1824, died Aug-10-1913 at 88 years of age; b. Montgomery, Fulton County, N.Y.; 1860 Census in Clayton Co., Iowa; 1880 Census, Monona, Clayton, Iowa; d. Monona, Clayton, Iowa; R. Mitchell Fonda, farmer and dairyman, Monona Township, and one of the enterprising citizens of Clayton County, Iowa was born in Montgomery, now Fulton County, New York In 1855 Mr. Fonda left his home in New York with his family and emigrated to Clayton County, locating in Giard Township, one mile east of Monona, where he remained until 1864, when he purchased his present farm of 256 acres. History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, Monona Township, p. 1040-1041.
Stephen Sammons Fonda; Farmer, Oil Dealer, Town Sheriff, Lumberman, Civil War Soldier; Hop Grower and Farmer on leases of Douw A. Fonda, Sheriff of Fonda, New York; born 23-Apr-1832, died Jan-15-1917 at 84 years of age; b. Reformed Protestant Dutch Church Of Caughnawaga, Fonda, Montgomery, New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Montgomery, Mohawk; Co. A, 99 N. Y. Infantry, Private, 132 N. Y. V., Union; 1880 United States Census, District 2, Mohawk, Montgomery, New York; 1900 United States Census, Fort Plain, Montgomery Co. , New York; d. Fort Plain, New York.
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