Scott Cooper Dayton

Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Cooper Dayton, 42, was killed in the line of duty due to an improvised explosive device blast near Tal Samen, Syria on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2016.

Dayton was a 23-year veteran of the United States Navy assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Two. At the time of his death, he was attached to a forward-deployed special operations unit in Syria in support of the Combined Joint Task Force, Operation Inherent Resolve. Dayton was part of the about 300 U.S. special operations troops operating inside Syria supporting Kurdish and Arab fighters opposed to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy, and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, seven Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbon, two Navy Unit Commendation, two Navy “E” Ribbon, seven Good Conduct Medal, two National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Metal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Service Medal, two Iraq Campaign Medals, four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal, and Expert Pistol Marksmanship Medal. He was qualified as a Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warfare Specialist, Military Freefall Parachutist, EOD Diver, and Surface Warfare Specialist.

Dayton is survived by his wife, Kristin, and his two children.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation paid off the mortgage on the Dayton family’s home.

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