SGT. WARD F. DAYTON "D" BATTERY 76TH FA WW1

The shield and the motto together form the regimental insignia. The 3rd Division colors, blue and white, form the basis of the shield. The canton (upper left part) is orange, the color of the 2nd Cavalry shield, its parent organization. In the center of the canton is the dragoon hat worn by the 2nd Cavalry when they were known as dragoons. The round symbolizes the motto, which is "Duty the Spirit of 76"
- Col. Albert S. Fuger, U.S.A. Ret.

Sgt. Ward F. Dayton "D" Battery, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, A.E.F, WW1. Image: All rights reserved the Seebeck Family Collection.

May 9, 2016

Greg,
My grandfather's name was Ward Dayton. He was quite a guy. He told us he joined the cavalry at age 19. It must have been the 18th cavalry which was turned into the 76th field artillery. He said he served from 1917 to 1919. These dates tell me he may have been initially at Ft Ethan Allen in Vermont. Then moved to Camp Shelby Mississippi. He was there at Camp Shelby when Norman Swartzkopf's father was the commander. I found his name on the Battery D roster on your site. He was a corporal at the beginning then promoted to sergeant.

He told several stories about his time in the war. He had machine gun bullet fragments in one of his legs. He also had a knife wound scar from the corner of his mouth to his ear. This injury occurred during a reconnaissance mission where they were scouting enemy positions. They were discovered by the enemy and made a hasty retreat through a muddy field, slipping and falling trying to get back to their lines. The enemy was on their heels, bayonets fixed, my grandfather went down, looking up he saw a German getting ready to bayonet him in the gut when his best buddy corporal or sergeant Dave L Fox (name found in NCO picture and your website) slipped behind him, his feet hitting my grandfather's shoulders pushing him as the bayonet came down it clipped the corner of his mount to his ear. While both men where down the American machine guns opened fire and allowed them to escape.

After the war my grandfather went to work for Wright Martin Corporation. Orville Wright was on the board of directors. The Wright company developed the most powerful air-cooled engine of the time. The J5 whirlwind engine. My grandfather was one of 3 highly regarded expert mechanics for that engine. The engine was used by many aircraft pioneers of the time. Flyers like Amelia Earhart, Richard Chamberlin, Admiral Bird, among others, and the most famous of all Charles Lindbergh. He met them all. My grandfather got the call to meet Lindbergh at Roosevelt Field in Long Island the morning he made his famous transatlantic flight. My grandfather tested the engine, made a few adjustments, topped of his tanks and checked his oil. It could have been just what that engine needed to make it a successful record setting flight.

These are just a few of his stories. What a time and what a guy.

- Dave Seebeck

Left image: Sgt. Ward F. Dayton on horseback taken most likely in France and the World War I Victory Medal bears five clasps of the battles that Sgt. Ward F. Dayton participated in: Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defense Sector. Images: All rights reserved the Seebeck Family Collection.

Battery "D", 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Division, France, WW1, A.E.F. Source: Dave Seebeck. Note: Dave's grandfather, Sergeant Ward F Dayton served in Battery "D", 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Division in France during WW1 and is in the above image. Look for more information in the roster below for more information. Very rare image of the Battery "D". All rights reserved the Seebeck Family Collection.

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