Meet Luis E. Fonseca Jr., Hospital Corpsman First Class (Ret.)
Luis is the Founder and President of the No Shame Warrior Foundation, a mental health nonprofit, and the owner of Luis Inspires. As a dynamic and passionate motivational and inspirational speaker, he uses his 22 years of experience as a U. S. Navy Hospital Corpsman and his personal experiences with mental health to bring to the forefront Mental Health Awareness, Suicide Prevention, and the deglamorization of negative coping mechanisms. His passion for providing support to veterans and active-duty military has allowed his team to locate over 25 individuals who were at the point of taking their lives.
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, to Sergeant First Class Luis E. Fonseca (deceased) and Elodia K. Fonseca, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 12, 1999, out of Fayetteville, NC. He deployed to Iraq to support the Global War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, as a platoon corpsman with the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Alpha Company, 1st platoon, reinforcing Charlie Company, 1st Battalion 2nd Marines. During this deployment, he was involved in the Battle of An Nasiriyah and was subsequently awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on March 23, 2003. During his service, he completed nine deployments with five combat tours: three to Afghanistan and two to Iraq.Mr. Fonseca holds an associate degree in science from Vincennes University, his universal certification in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration, G4 welding certification, an electrician apprenticeship, and is currently enrolled in National University's Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Psychology program. He is a Marathon runner and the Membership Chairman for the Legion of Valor of the United States of America, Inc.
His personal military awards include the Navy Cross, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), Combat Action Ribbon (2), Good Conduct Medal (3), Fleet Marine Force ribbon, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Expert Rifle and Expert pistol ribbons. His warfare devices include the Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare, Surface Warfare, and Air Warfare qualifications. Mr. Fonseca is married to Christina M. Fonseca, who retired as a Hospital Corpsman First Class after 21 years of U.S. Naval service. They have five children: Chrystian, Angel, Jade, Brycen, and Fenix, and two granddaughters, Delilah and Ayanna.
