[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 183 (Monday, November 3, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S7867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      TRIBUTE TO PRIGEON FONTENOT

 Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to retired 
9th Armored Division soldier Prigeon Fontenot, who is celebrating his 
100th birthday on November 23, 2025.
  Born on November 23, 1925, in Rayne, LA, he grew up on his family's 
farm, speaking Cajun French. He attended Indian Bayou High School until 
his enlistment into the U.S. Army during his senior year. Upon 
completion of basic training at Fort Hood, he was inducted into the 
Army on July 27, 1944, in New Orleans, LA. He was then assigned to Fort 
Meade, where he boarded a ship to Europe. Following his voyage across 
the Atlantic, he landed in France in January 1945. He remained in 
France for 2 weeks and was then attached to the 9th Armored Division. A 
proud Cajun who was later nicknamed Frenchie, PFC Fontenot used his 
fluency in Cajun French to communicate with local French-speaking 
allies. He and his fellow Frenchies, or French-speaking soldiers, 
served as interpreters for U.S. troops stationed in Europe. The 9th 
Armored Division was the first Allied unit to cross the Rhine River 
into Germany on March 7, 1945.
  PFC Fontenot was later discharged on April 28, 1946. Due to his brave 
service, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the European 
African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the 
World War II Victory Medal.
  Upon completion of his service, he returned to Louisiana and worked 
on his family farm until 1950. He then opened his own farm and began 
working at Rayne Wholesale. He married Betty Ann Trahan in 1956, and 
they celebrated 60 years of marriage before her passing in 2017. Mr. 
Fontenot has 5 children, 8 grandchildren, as well as multiple great-
grandchildren.
  He currently resides at Southwind Assisted Living Facility in 
Crowley, LA. He is the longest living Frenchie and an active member of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9822, and the American Legion, Post 
77. His story highlights how the war revived pride in Cajun heritage 
and identity in so many Americans. I invite all Americans to join me in 
thanking Prigeon Fontenot for his work to defend freedom and to build 
and bring pride to his community.

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