LT. COL. George Louis Fountain

In Leiu of Flowers; Baltimore Tuskegee Alumni Foundation Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 2541, Baltimore MD 21215 George Louis Fountain was the first child born to Essie Keene Vincent Fountain and Charles Wesley Fountain on May 20, 1916 in Fairton, New Jersey. He and his sisters, Gertrude and Sara, moved from Fairton to Bridgeton, New Jersey . He also had a half-brother, Willie Fountain, the son of his father and his father’s first wife who died. George enjoyed a happy childhood living in New Jersey. He skipped a grade in grammar school in Fairton and graduated from Bridgeton High School at age 17 where he was the valedictorian of the class in 1935. Upon high school graduation he immediately joined the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) to earn money for college. The CCC was a federal government work relief program for unemployed, unmarried men between the ages of 18-25 during the Great Depression. CCC camps were rough and dangerous, where he quickly learned how to survive. Reserve U.S Army officers were in charge of the CCC and this was his was first exposure to the military. Upon completion of the CCC, “Louis,” as he was affectionately known, went off to college. He wanted to study aerospace engineering and said he was accepted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but could not afford to attend. Instead, he chose Tuskegee Institute, in Tuskegee, Alabama where he majored in Industrial Arts with a 5-year scholarship. At Tuskegee he worked several jobs on campus including volunteering to work with Dr. George Washington Carver. He also worked to build Moton Airfield for the 99th Pursuit Squadron. While at Tuskegee George Fountain was a member of the Tuskegee Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC). His ROTC commanding officer was Benjamin O. Davis the commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen. George was accepted as a member of the distinguished Tuskegee Airmen program. However, he declined the offer knowing he would be required to leave college before graduating. It was at Tuskegee that George met the love of his life - Marie Fontaine from Martinsville, Virginia. He worked long hours and studied hard. He generously helped to pay the tuition of Marie and Stanley Goldsboro, his best friend from Bridgeton. They all graduated, he married Marie and his first child, Jacqueline (dec.) was born. George completed Officer Candidate School (OCS) and earned his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Regular Army July 4, 1944. After OCS, he was roommates with baseball great Jackie Robinson before deploying to command front line troops in Italy during World War II. In Italy he was a member of the 366th Infantry Regiment (Buffalo Soldiers). At the conclusion of the war he served in the Philippines where his second child was born. He returned to duty in New Jersey, where his third child was born, and he was promoted to the rank of Captain. In 1950 he deployed to the front line in the Korean Conflict. He became one of the first black officers to command troops in the newly desegregated U.S. Army. He returned to state side duty at Fort Eutis, Virginia where he single-handedly desegregated on-base housing for black soldiers. He completed many assignment locations including Tule, Greenland. Promoted to the rank of Major, he and his family moved so that he could serve again. He moved to Orléans, France, where his fourth child was born, and then on to duty in Mannheim, Germany. He returned to the states, where he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel while serving at Fort Totten, New York. He retired honorably from military service in 1964. He was highly decorated, received numerous awards including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart during combat. He was proud that he never lost a man. Upon his military retirement George Fountain and moved his family to Baltimore, Maryland. While in Baltimore, he served as the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer (EEOO) at Ft. George G. Meade until 1992 opening doors for many. He and Marie helped to found the Baltimore Tuskegee Alumni Association which is still active today. George was married to Marie (dec.) for 55 years. At 1:52 a.m. on Sunday August 28, 2011, he departed this life at the age of 95. He leaves to mourn three loving children and their spouses: Wynnona and Virgil, Georgene, George Jr. and Renee; eight dear grandchildren: Michelle and Leon, Brian, Addai and Egem, Shani and Lakai, Jamal, Marie, George III and Shelby; two spirited great-grandchildren: Najiah and Jahir; a beloved sister Sara Wright; nieces, nephews, Fountain cousins, Fontaine cousins Doris Loper and son; treasured friend Penny Lawrence (wife of his Tuskegee roommate Frank Lawrence, and many others that he touched along his tremendous life’s journey. He was a man of strong moral character with an unwavering commitment to doing what is right.

Tributes

LT. COL. George Louis Fountain

May 20, 1916 - August 28, 2011