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Aug 8, 2006 6:20 pm US/Eastern
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Injured War Vet Hopes To Become Boston Firefighter
by Bill Shields
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
It'll be an extra special welcome home this month for Brian Fontaine when he returns from Iraq. Despite a life changing injury, Brian never gave up on his dream of becoming the 3rd generation of his family to serve in the Boston Fire Department.
Paul Fontaine has been a Boston Firefighter for most of his adult life, and even veterans like Paul have to keep training. But on Tuesday, Fontaine could not stop thinking about his son.
"I am real proud of my son," he said.
His son, Sgt. Brian Fontaine, lost both feet in Iraq, but he hasn't lost his determination. "If you get down and you give up, then that means the enemy has won, and I'll be damned if I let the enemy win. Granted he took my feet, but he is not going to take my pride."
And perhaps it is that pride and fearlessness that would make Sgt. Fontaine a good firefighter.
"Somebody that makes a rank of a tank commander has a lot on the ball," said Fire Commissioner Kevin MacCurtain. "We know that a mayor is committed to finding him a job and we know there is a place for him in the Boston Fire Department."
And Paul Fontaine knows when his son's prosthetics are fitted, running will be next. "He's going to be going places and doing things. What he wants to do… that's his game. That's how he wants to play it."
Brian says firefighting would be the perfect job. "My father's father was in the Boston Fire Department, so you can kind of say that I have smoke in the blood."
Some people say that there could be some legal issues here for other people who have been rejected from the fire service. As for Brian, he says he will make it though the academy.
Every trainee in the fire academy must be able to run three miles before graduating. Fontaine says he is ready for the challenge.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)