Jonathon Michael Coté was born on February 11th, 1983 in Long Beach, CA. He was born into a military family and was the youngest of two sons. Jon’s father served 20 years in the United States Marine Corp.In 1999, Jon and his family moved to Western New York after living in Virginia Beach. Jon graduated from Williamsville North High School in 2001.
After high school, Jon enlisted in the U.S. Army. He graduated Basic Training with his Expert Infantry Badge and then went to Airborne School at Fort Benning. He served four years with the 82nd Airborne Division, based out of Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC. He was invited to attend the Army’s Military Academy at West Point but declined. While on active duty, he served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Following his military service in 2005, Jon attended the University of Florida and became a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. However, he found it difficult to adjust back to civilian life and after a year, he sought out a job as a private security contractor. Soon thereafter, Jon was hired, packed his belongings into a storage unit in Florida and flew to Kuwait.
While guarding a military convoy crossing into Iraq, insurgents ambushed and captured Jon and four of his colleagues on November 16th, 2006. It would be 523 days until his remains were returned to his family.
Jon’s life was tragically cut short, but his incredible spirit continues to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Steve Fainaru, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, chronicles and immortalizes Jon’s story in his book, “Big Boy Rules – America’s Mercenaries Fighting in Iraq”. Steve was a Washington Post reporter working on a story about private security contractors while embedded with Jon and his co-workers right before their capture.
Being the adrenaline seeking adventurer he was, Jon loved to ride his motorcycle. It provided him with feelings of excitement, exhilaration, but most of all freedom. Every year in August, family and friends organize a memorial motorcycle ride in his memory. They ride together to remember, honor and celebrate Jon’s life and his service to our country. Jon’s motorcycle is ridden by his brother, Chris, at the front of the long procession of bikes each year.
Jon lived life to the fullest and cared deeply for others. Even though he is not on this earth, Jon’s love of caring for others continues through our donation of the proceeds from this memorial ride. The proceeds are used to award a $1,000 scholarship in Jon’s memory to a graduating Senior at Williamsville North High School every year. Any remaining proceeds are donated to WNY Heroes in order to help them serve, support, and increase awareness of the burdens placed on our local military heroes and their families.