8Aug1920 – 30Apr1945
Edison Days
Dayhart graduated with Class of January 1940. He was active in YMCA Basketball and won a city championship in 1938.
Dayhart made the local sports page for catching a large Crappie in June 1940.
A 2 lbs. 2 oz. crappie would be a trophy today!
Dayhart won a park board basketball title in April 1945.
Military Service
Rank: Technical Sergeant
Branch: United States Army
Unit: Company A – 409th Infantry Regiment – 103rd Infantry Division
Dayhart joined the 409th Infantry Regiment as a Private on 14December1942. Based at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, the 409th spent the next 11 months training for combat. While in Louisiana, Dayhart was promoted to Corporal on 1Apr1943.
On 15Nov1943 the 409th relocated to Camp Howze, North of Dallas, TX. Just 2 weeks later, on 30Nov1943, Dayhart was promoted to Sergeant. Dayhart and the 409th trained at Camp Howze until 15Sep1944 when they began their journey to Europe. While at Camp Howze, Dayhart’s older brother joined the 409th Infantry Regiment. This was apparently against military regulations that prevented brothers from serving in the same unit at the same time.
on 5Oct1944, Dayhart and the 409th embarked from Pier 51 in New York City aboard the troopship USS Monticello. While enroute, Dayhart was promoted to Staff Seargeant. 15 Days later they disembarked at Marseille, France.
Less than a month later, on 11Nov1944, Dayhart and the 409th entered combat near Epinal, France. The month of November saw the 409th pursue the retreating Germans across France as they fought major engagements in St. Die, Hurbache, St. Jean D’Ormant, Provenchere, Lubine, Laylaye, Dambach-la-Ville.
December was a continuation of November as the 409th continued to pursue the Germans. on 4Dec1944, Selstat, France was captured dealing a major blow to the Germans. 12 days later the 409th entered Germany for the first time at the city of Weiler. After nearly 3 Weeks attacking the Siegfried Line, Dayhart and the 409th were relieved and spent Christmas Day 1944 near Saint-Jean-Rohrbach, France.
Dayhart and the 409th were in combat continuously during January, February, and March 1944 as they pursued the retreating German army. Dayhart and Jacob received a reprieve from combat when they were granted a 5 day leave to the military rest center at Nancy, France from 17Mar1945 to 22Mar1945.
After the 5 days of rest, Dayhart returned to the combat as the 409th continued to pursue the retreating German army.
On 19Apr1945 Dayhart was promoted to Technical Sergeant. The 409th was near Meerholz, Germany at the time. A week later, the 409th captured the town of Leibi, Germany. The German army was rapidly collapsing.
On 27Apr1945 Dayhart and the 409th advanced over 40 miles through the towns of Berg, Balzhausen, Turkheim, Buchloe, Wiedergeltingen, Holzhausen, Landsberg, Honsolgen, Lenrenfeld, Asch, Leeder, Hohenfurch, and Shwab. They ended the day in Schobgau, Germany.
2 days later the 409th was sent South to attach Garmish-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Dayhart was killed in action on 30Apr1945 near Garmish-Partenkirchen, Germany. The circumstances of his death are unknown.
Dayhart died in his brother’s arms.
Dayhart’s brother Jacob, was wounded trying to save Dayhart. He was hospitalized until August 1945.
Dayhart was the last Edison Hero to be killed in action in the European Theater of Operations during the war. Germany signed the unconditional surrender to the Allies just 7 days later on 7May1945.
Dayhart was buried in a temporary cemetery in Germany. In 1949 his remains were returned to the United States.
Dayhart is buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.
Edison Heroes 