[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 73 (Friday, April 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E566-E567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER ARMY STAFF SERGEANT 
                      (SSG) JEFFREY FRANCIS DAYTON

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 28, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of Army 
Staff Sergeant (SSG) Jeffrey Francis Dayton who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice while defending our nation on April, 29, 2004, during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. SSG Dayton was one of eight soldiers killed by 
a car bomb as his unit was doing a dismounted improvised explosive 
device sweep in Baghdad, Iraq.
  SSG Dayton was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery 
Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany. SSG Dayton entered 
the Army in February 1998. His family says SSG Dayton was always drawn 
to ``all things Army.'' He was the sixth child of Jim and Shelia 
Dayton. His nickname was ``Six.'' He had another nickname in the Army. 
Everyone in his unit called him ``Sunshine'' because of his friendly 
disposition and upbeat personality.
  SSG Dayton's brother, John Dayton, was serving with the Air Force in 
the Middle East at the time of his brother's death. John immediately 
requested to leave his post to escort his little brother's body home. 
He did not want his brother to make the long journey home alone. As 
John made his way with Jeffrey's body through airports in Frankfurt, 
Germany, Atlanta, and Memphis, he was amazed at the outpouring of 
respect he received. He shared his story with Kevin Wood, author of an 
article on 40 Days of Honor, a blog initiated by the Northeast 
Mississippi Daily Journal.
  ``During the mission to escort my brother's body back home, the most 
difficult of any mission ever assigned to me, several people approached 
me in airports and thanked me for my service,'' John said. ``I politely 
thanked them, but inside I felt hollow, and guilty. It just didn't seem 
right that my little brother died protecting others and they were 
thanking me.''
  When SSG Dayton's body arrived in Columbus, MS, the Columbus Police 
Department cleared the roads and posted an officer at each 
intersection. Each police officer saluted SSG Dayton.
  SSG Dayton is buried in Corinth, MS, in the closest military cemetery 
to his Caledonia home. Today, a monument stands in his honor as well in 
honor of SSGT Brian Freeman, who also gave his life to protect our 
freedoms.
  SSG Dayton is survived by his parents, James and Shelia Dayton, his 
wife Helen, and siblings; John and Jim Dayton, Joe Galbraith, Jay and 
Jeremy Dayton, and his sister, Joanna Gilford.

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