Tucson soldier 'Chiko' Cota loved jokes, serving country

Army Sgt. Victor Manuel Cota was buried at Evergreen Cemetery Friday on what would have been his 34th birthday.

Cota grew up in Tucson and graduated from Tucson High School.

He died on May 14 in Kadamiyah, Iraq, while serving in the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division.

A dancer and joker, "Chiko" loved being a soldier. "He always wanted to be in the military. It gave him direction," said Aarón Valencia, a friend and classmate of Cota's at Tucson High School.

Cota joined the Army right out of high school, Valencia said.

He had already served in Bosnia and volunteered to fight in Iraq, said Julio Zanmoralo, another friend.

Cota had previously served two tours of duty in Iraq, the first in 2003-2004 and the second in 2005-2006.

Cota was part of the group that found Saddam Hussein in 2003, said Staff Sgt. Felix Cano, who served with Cota in Iraq.

"Everybody knew and loved him," Cano said.

Cota was described by his friends as a family man who always had his lips stretched into a smile.

"He is going to be missed. We are honored to have such a friend in our lives," Valencia said.

Cota is survived by and his wife, Maria Liliana Cota and two young children, Mireyaaime Cota Santana and Victor Manuel Cota Santana.