Private First Class Fortin was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was seriously wounded while attacking enemy position on the beaches at Inchon, South Korea, and died of those wounds on 16 September 1950.

Fortin was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.