El Dorado Hills soldier dies in Iraq

An earlier tour in Afghanistan eroded some of Kyle Dayton's confidence. But marriage returned some of the U.S. Army sergeant's self-assurance, and he was looking forward to returning home from Iraq to his wife and the son he'd never met.

The Oak Ridge High School graduate died Monday in a noncombat-related incident in Iraq, according to a news release from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg, N.C.

Dayton, a paratrooper and infantry team leader, was responding with his unit to a logistics convoy accident when one of the vehicles involved unexpectedly ignited near Anbar province, the release says. The accident is under investigation.

Dayton, 22, of El Dorado Hills was remembered Wednesday as a steadfast friend.

"If a friend was ever in need, Kyle would be the first one by their side," Dayton's wife, Nicole, of Folsom, said in an e-mail.

James Banuelos agreed: "He was the most loyal person I ever met – stubborn as hell, but loyal."

Banuelos said the two became best friends during their junior year at Oak Ridge. "When he thought he was right, he would fight to the death to make sure people knew he was right."

Banuelos said he and Kyle Dayton lived a few houses from each other in El Dorado Hills after Dayton moved in with his grandparents, Eleanor and Jim Miller. The two youths were like brothers.

"We were always there for each other," Banuelos said.

They participated in football as well as track and field at Oak Ridge High. Dayton was a defensive end and outside linebacker on the varsity team, and also threw the shot put and discus, Banuelos recalled.

The two went their separate ways after graduation. Banuelos enrolled at the University of California, Riverside, and Dayton enlisted in the Army in 2003. But Banuelos said the two continued to e-mail each other regularly. The friends last corresponded about three days before Dayton died.

Dayton joined the military because he didn't think he was ready for college, Banuelos said, but his goal was eventually to become a police officer.

He had been with the 82nd Airborne Division since September 2005. Dayton served in Afghanistan before he was sent to Iraq in June.

He was affected by his experience in Afghanistan, his friend said.

"For the first time, he was not as confident in himself," Banuelos said. "He thought he was going to die."

But Dayton began to get some of his old spirit back after getting married, Banuelos said.

"What I'll remember most about Kyle was his laugh," said Nicole Dayton, "and his amazing ability to make me laugh when I needed it and his unfailing selfless nature."

Nicole Dayton said that she and Dayton attended high school together but really got to know each other about three years ago.

"From the first conversation we had, I knew I wanted to be part of his life."

She said she moved to North Carolina when he returned from Afghanistan, and they were married soon afterward.

She was six months pregnant when they learned he was going to Iraq.

"When I was pregnant," she recalled, "Kyle went out at 11 p.m. and used his last two dollars to get me the Dairy Queen hot dogs I just couldn't live without."

Nicole Dayton gave birth to their son 3 1/2 months ago, while her husband was overseas.

"The one thing I really wish he could have done was hold our son, Sean, just once," Nicole Dayton said. "He was so excited about becoming a daddy."

Kyle Dayton received numerous awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

In addition to his wife, son and grandparents, he is survived by his mother, Linda McLaurin of Tracy.

Story published on 12/6/2007 - Update time reflects changing of story's internal expiration date

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