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<p><em>Joseph Edgar “Joe” Fortier III</em> was born January 28, 1938 in Greenville, SC to Joseph Edgar Fortier II and Evelyn Christian (Watkins) Fortier. Joe’s father was stationed in Japan after World War II. Joe would tell his children stories that, when he lived there, he taught his friends how to play baseball. He used to joke that he brought baseball to Japan. </p>
<p>After living abroad for a number of years, Joe’s dad moved his family to Muncie, IN. Joe graduated from Muncie Central High School in 1956 and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1960. While at West Point, Joe was a member of the Golf Club, Skeet Club, Ski Club, French Club, Outdoor Sportsman Club, Sailing Club, and Pistol Club. Joe also played football and wrestled. A remark from Joe in his West Point yearbook says Joe commented “Next” and went on his “beatnik” way in a fashion that makes him the unforgettable guy he is!</p>
<p>Upon graduation, Joe was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry. He then attended the U.S. Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA, where he successfully completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course, airborne training, and Ranger training. In 1961, he was assigned to the 25th Division in Hawaii, and served as a platoon leader and company commander. He also coached and played center for his battle group football team. He was promoted to captain and remained in Hawaii until 1964, when he applied for the Special Forces, “Green Berets,” at Fort Bragg, NC. After completing Special Forces training, Joe commanded a Special Forces team in Tay Ninh Province, Republic of South Vietnam. </p>
<p>After his service in Vietnam, Joe and his family moved to Fort Benning, where Joe became an instructor at the Infantry School and also attended the Infantry Officer Career Course. Joe subsequently resigned from the U.S. Army and became a registered representative with Merrill Lynch Securities in Miami, FL. Not satisfied with that endeavor, Joe applied for and became an officer of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). He served as a DEA agent in Miami and Hollywood, FL; Washington, DC; Copenhagen, Denmark; Scottsdale, AZ; and for Interpol in Lyon, France and Wilmington, NC. Joe retired from the DEA in 1990.</p>
<p>Bill McNamara, Joe’s West Point classmate, remembered how athletic Joe was:</p>
<p>“As center for our very successful Football Team, Joe was always at the ‘tip of the spear.’ While rooming with Joe at the D-2 mini reunion in San Antonio, TX, I was able to drive him to his father’s grave, which he had located but had never visited. It was very emotional and touching for him, and I was so glad we went. Joe recanted to me over those four days together his actions in Vietnam. Throughout his tour in Vietnam he never let his team or his troops he was advising go on any operation without his presence. His encounters were extremely dangerous and on several occasions Joe escaped being killed. So true were his stories of operations in the DEA. Again Joe placed himself in harm’s way and was frequently a target for cartels. Joe left Vietnam only to place himself many times as an agent in harm’s way countless times. He was made of iron and he was fearless! We spent many a night into the wee hours of the morning talking about his many encounters with ‘the enemy.’ Joe was truly a hero both to the Class of 1960, our beloved Company D-2, to the Army, to the DEA, and to the nation.”</p>
<p>Joe was very proud of being a West Point graduate and attended several of the reunions over the years. He wanted to make sure his class ring was donated back to West Point and melted down for future classmates’ rings, which it was.</p>
<p>Joe enjoyed spending time with the love of his life, his wife Annelise. They traveled all over the world and spent time between their homes in Denmark and Naples, FL. They especially enjoyed going on cruises. In 2010, Joe and Annelise took their daughter, Kris, and her family on one of their cruises, a wonderful memory. Joe was an avid football fan and enjoyed reading, golfing, fishing, and having long conversations, a delicious meal and a rum and Coke. He was the best storyteller, with a great sense of humor. Joe had a special love for animals, especially dogs. He had the ability to crack a joke at inopportune times, and, of course, everyone would laugh. Joe had a unique charm about him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. As a good friend of Joe’s said, he was a remarkable man, soldier, athlete, and DEA agent.</p>
<p> Joe’s family includes his wife, Annelise, of 39 years, who loved him very much; daughter Kim Fortier of Columbus, OH; son Craig Fortier (Brenda) of Pendleton, IN; son Mark Fortier (Julia) of Raleigh, NC; and daughter Kris Scott, (Jarred) of Muncie, IN; nine grandchildren: Garrett and Brandon Gaddis, Noah and Savannah Scott, Sara Hanna, Ren and Vance Fortier, Nicole and Kaitlyn Fortier; and two great-grandchildren, Nevaeh and Garren Gaddis, along with nephews Scott Carlson of Miami, FL and Brett Carlson of Framingham, MA and niece Sally Shippee of Framingham, MA. </p>
<p><em>— Kris Fortier Scott, daughter, John Miller and Bill McNamara, classmate </em></p>
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