On March 29 just before the stroke of midnight, The Old Guard witnessed the birth of its newest Soldier, Cote, a 70 pound colt born in the stables at Fort Myer.

Cote was born to Betty Boop, a Percheron-Standard bred cross, and both son and mother are doing fine.

It was a surprise birth as the 3d US Infantry Regiment didn't know Betty was pregnant. "We usually take the vendor's word (that the horse isn't pregnant) when we get the horse. But we didn't know Betty was pregnant until it was too late. It was a good surprise though," said Chief Warrant Officer Abdullah Johnson, the Caisson Platoon leader.

Prior to Cote's birth, Caisson Soldiers rebuilt one of the stalls to accommodate Betty in giving birth. Soldiers cut new wood, hung curtains and tore down a wall to make the stable "colt proof," said Maj. Lisa Amoroso, the Fort Myer Military Community veterinarian. Everything sharp was removed and the stall guard was replaced by a stall door, something the newborn wouldn't be able to scoot under.

"The birth went well and Betty is a fantastic mother," Amoroso said. "She has been protective, but has permitted care of the colt. All of Cote's nutrition -- including viral antibodies -- come through nursing on which Cote has thrived."

The platoon decided to name the newcomer after Pete Cote, who worked as the platoon's farrier for more than 36 years before retiring last year. Cote is only the second colt born to the Old Guard Caisson Platoon.