WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Family and friends say goodbye to fallen soldier

Family and friends say goodbye to fallen soldier

DENHAM SPRINGS, LA (WAFB) - A Denham Springs soldier killed in Iraq a little over a week ago will be laid to rest Tuesday morning.

Visitation for Michael Cote Jr., 20, was held from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Monday at Seal Funeral Home in Denham Springs. Visitation continued from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Tuesday. The funeral service started at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.

Cote was killed when a Blackhawk crashed on Sept. 19. He was a 2007 graduate of Denham Springs High School.

His former teacher said Cote was "a pleasure to teach'' and was very excited for the chance to serve his country.

The U.S. military said a Blackhawk helicopter crashed at an American base in Iraq, killing one service member and wounding 12 others.

The military said the helicopter went down at the Balad Air Base, 50 miles north of Baghdad.

It said the cause of the crash was unknown and under investigation.