Wayne Payton

Birthplace: Cedar Point, KS

Branch of Service: Army

Unit: 4th Armored Division

Theater of Operation: European

Battle: Battle of the Bulge, Normandy

Enlisted / Commissioned: Jan 19, 1942

Discharged: Nov 5, 1945

Highest Rank: Private First Class

Honored By: The Eisenhower Foundation

Wayne Payton was born 1923, in Cedar Point, Kansas. He went to school and graduated from high school there. Payton was drafted into the Army and became active January 19, 1942, and was assigned the role of small arms mechanic. He shipped out of New York toward England on October 14, 1943, and stayed until D-Day. Payton stayed on England beaches hauling for troops and getting them loaded. Payton was in the 4th Armored Division. After helping prepare the troops for D-Day, the 4th Armored Division landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 13. His troop participated in five campaigns to take back Europe from Nazi Germany. He participated in Battle of the Bulge, crossed the Rhine River with his division, and stayed in Germany until the war ended. He landed in the US October 30, 1945, and ended his service November 5, 1945.

He worked for the Santa Fe Railroad as a Telegraph operator at several posts though his 40 year service.