Michael Cote

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Michael Andre Cote enlisted in the United States Army on 28 June 1979, in the delayed entry program, and because he was only seventeen years of age, had to have his parents sign the pre-enlistment paperwork. Michael was still in High School at the time, and halfway through his senior year, decided that he had had enough and requested to head for training six months early. So, after a short bus ride to Boston’s Logan Airport, and his first airplane ride, reported for Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky on 14 January 1980. After a couple of days at the reception station, Michael was assigned to his basic training unit, Company ‘E’ 13th Battalion, 4th Basic Training Brigade. After the first six weeks of training his unit was put onto buses and moved to Fort Benning, Georgia on 28 February 1980, where they were assigned to Company ‘A’ 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Brigade, for Advanced Individual Training. After training was completed on 9 April 1980, and after graduation ceremonies were held, Michael took a 10 day leave before reporting to his first duty station. Michael arrived at Fort Hood, Texas on 19 Apr 1980, and after another few days at the reception station with the 15th Replacement Company, Michael received his orders for his first duty assignment with the 1st Battalion 12th Cavalry Regiment, (Blue Lancers), 1st Cavalry Division for a tour of duty lasting 18 months.

In mid-October 1981 Michael received orders that would transfer him to the United State Army Europe Command, (USAEUR), and the day before Thanksgiving was on a plane headed for Frankfurt, West Germany. After arriving at Ramstein Air Force base, Michael was on a bus headed for the 21st Replacement Company in Wurzburg, West Germany. After another few days of processing, Michael received orders for his assignment with the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, (Wild Boars), 3rd Infantry Division and stationed Leadwood Kaserne in the city of Schweinfurt, West Germany. Shortly before the end of his tour Michael re-enlisted and in February 1983 was transferred back to the United States and a new assignment. Michael reported to the 101st Replacement Detachment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in mid-March and after the usual few days of processing was assigned to the 1st Battalion 506th Infantry Regiment, (Currahee), 101st Airborne Division, (Air Assault). On 5 June 1984, the 1st Battalion 506th Infantry Regiment was reflagged as the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, (Strike). Michael would spend the next 4 years at Fort Campbell performing duties as both an Infantryman and as a Unit Supply Specialist.

In March 1987 Michael received orders for another overseas assignment, this time sending him to the Republic of Korea. In April 1987 Michael was on another airplane, and after arriving at Osan Air Force Base, was bused to the 8th Army Replacement Company in Seoul, Korea. A couple of days in Seoul, and he was on another bus headed for Camp Casey, in the City of Tongduchon Ni, and the 2nd Replacement Detachment. After a couple of days of processing he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and later Company ‘C’ 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Regiment, (Regulars), 2nd Infantry Division. In April 1988 after a 13-month tour of duty, Michael received orders returning him back to the United States and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After some leave time Michael reported to the Replacement Detachment and received orders assigning him to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, (Strike Force), and later re-assigned to the 1st Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment, (First Strike), 101st Airborne Division. Michael was honorably discharged from active duty on 12 March 1990.

After being discharged from the Active Army, Michael moved to Kingman, Arizona with his would-be second wife, Wildeana Sauberan, and proceeded to make a home there. He first worked at the Petro Service Center, just off Interstate-40, as a service attendant performing oil changes, and repairing or replacing tires on commercial vehicles. He worked at this job from May 1991 to June 1992. In June 1992 Michael began working for the True Value Hardware Distribution Center, also in Kingman. He worked as a Warehouse Associate from June 1992 to July 1997, processing incoming freight and marking it for the various warehouse locations that the supplies needed to go to. In June 1997 Michael mad a bid for a job position with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs at the Navajo Army Depot in Bellemont, Coconino County, Arizona. Michael won that job and served as Tool, Parts, and Service Attendant at the depot’s equipment maintenance facility. He would work in this job from July 1997 until July 2004. The only caveat to this job position was that the applicant had to be a member of the Arizona National Guard.

In January 1995 Michael made a bid for a return to the military and on 18 March 1995 re-enlisted into the Arizona Army National Guard, initially as a Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic, (MOS 63S00) with the 1058th Ordnance Company, 157th Ordnance Battalion, in Kingman, Arizona. In September of that year the 1058th Ordnance Company was deactivated, and Michael transferred to the 258th Rear Area Operations Center, (RAOC), as an Operations Specialist, located at the Navajo Army Depot. On 3 March 1997 Michael transferred to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Navajo Army Depot as a Automated Logistics Specialist, (MOS 92A20), and subsequently a Unit Supply Specialist, (MOS 92Y20), and a year later was promoted to Sergeant. In August 2000 Michael was promoted to Staff Sergeant and transferred to the 363rd Ordnance Company (EOD), as the Unit Supply Sergeant, (MOS 92Y30), and along with his unit, was called to active duty to perform a 6 month tour of duty, on Operation Joint Forge, in the former Yugoslavian republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina from September 2000 to March 2001. In October 2001, and after the events of 11 September 2001, Michael began a 7-month tour of duty, on Operation Noble Eagle, performing security duties at the Flagstaff Municipal Airport, until May 2002.

In November 2002, the 363rd Ordnance Company was again ordered to active duty. The unit would serve an 18 month tour of duty, on Operation Iraqi Freedom, 10 months supporting operations on the west coast of the United States from December 2002 to October 2003, and then 8 months supporting operations in northern Iraq, in the City of Mosul, from October 2003 to the unit’s return to the United States in April 2004. In July of 2004 Michael transferred to the 356th Signal Company, in Phoenix, Arizona, as the Unit Supply Sergeant in a full-time duty status. In July of 2005 Michael was promoted to Sergeant First Class and was assigned to the 1st Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment, as the Battalion S4 Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, (NCOIC, MOS 92Y40), in Marana, Arizona. In April of 2006, the unit was called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and in May 2006 moved to Fort Hood, Texas. The 1st Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment would spend the first 6 months performing some intensive aviation and certification training for unit pilots, and then 3 months of deployment specific training. The 1st Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment would serve a one-year tour of duty, from January 2007 to January 2008 in north eastern Afghanistan, near the City of Kabul, supporting operations against the Taliban.

In October 2008 Michael would transfer to the 253rd Engineer Battalion, located in Phoenix, Arizona, as the Battalion S4 NCOIC and would serve there until August 2011, at which time he was re-assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, of the newly activated 258th Maneuver Enhanced Brigade. By this time Michael had accrued 90 days of leave and would spend that time on a long vacation until he officially retired on 30 November 2011. At this point he would have served 27 years, 4 months, and 28 days. This would break down to 21 years, 8 months, 11 days active duty, and 5 years, 8 months, 17 days reserve duty.

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Michael Cote at registration.