A heart attack failed to prevent Dayton from helping GIs with malaria.

Dayton F. Hornor was born in Tulare County, California, on April 19, 1911, to Dr. D. H. and Mary Hornor. In addition to Dayton, the family included his brothers David, Ralph and Kenneth. After his retirement as a railroad surgeon, Dr. Hornor moved his family to Santa Cruz from the Sacramento Valley. On August 24, 1925, Dayton entered Santa Cruz High School where he majored in chemistry and served as the school's student body president. After graduating in June 1929, Dayton enrolled in an unidentified college where he studied for four years.

At some point during the 1930s, Dayton was married. Two daughters, Sheryl and Carol, were later born to the couple before they were divorced. In July 1942 Hornor was living in Placer County and working for the railroad as a locomotive fireman.

On July 15 1942, Dayton Hornor was inducted into the US Army in San Francisco. When he reported for active duty, his mother assumed the care of his daughters in Roseville. Following his training period, he reported to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and joined the 727th Engineer Battalion.

While stationed in Mississippi, Dayton suffered a heart attack and was sent to New Orleans for treatment. He was eligible for a medical discharge but chose to remain in the service. Because of his background in chemistry, Dayton continued to serve as a lab technician.

Hornor's training in the field of malaria resulted in his being assigned to the 9th Malaria Survey unit located in India. While serving in India, Sergeant Dayton Hornor was killed in an unspecified accident on June 30, 1943. The location of his remains is not known but they were possibly returned to the US after the war.

(NARA2, SCHSC Pg. 11; SCSn August 3, 1943 5:6)