Flag honors Cote brothers who served during Vietnam War

During the month of August, the 514th flag to fly atop Old Glory Tower in the North End honors Stephen and Dennis Cote, brothers who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. 

Stephen served in the active duty Army from Dec. 8, 1963, to June 23, 1967, earning the rank of Sergeant. According to his DD-214 form, Stephen was stationed at the U. S. Army Personnel Center in Oakland, Calif. His last duty assignment was with the 90th Replacement Battalion. According to the online version of the handbook, the 90th Replacement Battalion was “located approximately 22 miles northeast of Saigon” and was part of a “complex known as the Long Binh Post”, home of the Head Quarters for the U.S. Army Vietnam. Stephen then transferred to the Army Reserve in 1967 and was honorably discharged June 12, 1969.

Stephen earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious Unit Citation. 

Dennis served as a Private in the Vietnam War in Company B 864th Engineering Battalion. According to his brother, Joseph E. Singleton Jr., Dennis was stationed in Thailand. 

Dennis earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. 

Stephen and Dennis grew up in Fairhaven and Marion, the sons of the late Irene Parker Singleton and Joseph E. Singleton of Marion. Stephen worked as a fish cutter in New Bedford and at Home Depot in Wareham. Dennis worked as a New Bedford fisherman. 

Stephen is survived by his wife, Ruth Hamilton Cote, currently living in Gloucester, as well as a daughter, Dawn Heanue, and her husband, Steven, also of Gloucester, and one grandson. 

Dennis is survived his four children: Jesse Smith and his wife, Mechelle, of Tacoma, Washington; Sarah Jaimes and her husband, Marco, of Cherryfield, Maine; Stephen Cote of Cherryfield, Maine; and, Dennis Cote Jr. and his wife, Karla, of Denver, Colorado. Stephen and Dennis are in the U. S. Army. According to his uncle, Joe Singleton Jr., Dennis Jr. “was awarded a Purple Heart in person from President Obama while the president was visiting in Afghanistan.” Dennis Sr. is also survived by his former wife, Carla Gifford Cote, of Cherryfield, Maine, and nine grandchildren. 

The brothers are also survived by their three sisters: Patricia DeCosta and her husband, Thomas, of Marion: Linda Dessert and her husband, David, of West Wareham; and Cynthia Visotski and her husband, Joseph, of Mattapoisett; and their brother, Joseph E. Singleton Jr. and his wife, Jo-Anne, of Marion as well as several nieces and nephews. 

The late Joseph Theodore, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, began the practice of flying veterans’ flags above the Old Glory Tower 43 years ago. 

Linda Ferreira, a marketing representative at Ashley Ford in New Bedford, researches the life histories of area veterans. Paul Neary, General Manager of the dealership raises the memorial flags on the veterans’ behalf. Those who would like to honor a veteran by flying a flag at Old Glory Tower can contact Ms. Ferreira at (508) 996-5611 or at marketing@ashleyfordsales.com.