My name is PFC Joseph J. Fontenot, I am currently deployed to the 2nd ID in S. Korea, I will be headed back stateside in May, and will be with the 101st at Ft. Campbell. Before joining the ARMY I was in the metal band Jacknife, we were on tour, and happened to be playing in New York only a few blocks from ground zero. I walked to ground zero in the middle of the night, and it took my breathe away to see the destruction that was caused on 9/11..... 
A few days later we were in another state, and I saw a convoy of military vehicles, and spoke with one of the soldiers and told him thank you for serving our country; his reply was simply "No thanks are necessary, it's my honor to protect our freedom." At that moment I think I decided that after seeing ground zero, and talking to the soldier that I wanted to do my part. After the tour I informed the guys in Jacknife, and our record label that I would be leaving the group. I joined the ARMY in November, and was in Basic training by January. I am asked often by guys here in S. Korea that find out I used to play music for a living why did I do it, and if I miss music, and my answer is simple. I joined the ARMY because I love my family, and I love serving, and protecting them from people like Suddam Hussein and others in the world that would like to cause them harm. As far as missing music, you always miss things you sacrifice, but if you believe in what you are doing now, then you made the right choice in my opinion. -PFC, Joseph J. Fontenot (on far right)
 | 
