SHORT NOTICE: CONFIRMED: Staff Sgt, Dayton Polvado, MIA, Recovery, US Army, WWII (57-26) 10 Apr 26
822 Airport Blvd
San Antonio, TX 78216
USA
“SHORT NOTICE”
US ARMY – MISSION IN ACTION – RECOVERY
The family of Staff Sgt, Dayton Polvado, US Army. Requests the attendance and participation of the San Antonio Patriot Guard Riders in the recovery of their loved one and a LEO Supported Procession to the Funeral Home. We are honored to accept this invitation.
Dayton Polvado was born June 29, 1915, to Monroe and Edna Durbin Polvado. He and his twin brother, Damon (who was born first), were their fourth and fifth out of ten children. He attended school until the 10th grade, which was the last grade offered at Round Mountain school. Dayton worked at Samuels Glass Company in San Antonio before he was drafted into the Army March 25, 1942, at the age of 26.
Dayton served in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division in the European Theater during World War II. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. The 90th Infantry Division logo featured a red T-O. Originally, the red T-O stood for Texas-Oklahoma, since the division was made up almost entirely of men from those two states. Later, however, men were drawn from every state in the nation, and the T-O came to represent, by common consent, “TOUGH ‘OMBRES.”
In a letter dated December 1943 from Dayton to his sister Geraldine Polvado Smith, written while he was stationed at the Desert Training Center in the Mojave Desert, Dayton stated that he had hoped to visit his brother, Amos (who lived in California), but was unable to make the trip on a two-day pass. According to Army records, Dayton passed through Fort Dix, New Jersey then went on to be stationed in England and France. He was at D-Day and landed at Utah Beach 12 hours after the assault began. His survival of D-Day can be attributed to both location (Utah Beach had far less casualties than Omaha Beach) and timing (not being in the first wave of soldiers coming ashore). Dayton was wounded and hospitalized in July 1944 (details unknown) but was returned to Company K. He went through the crossing of the Moselle River on November 9th and then the crossing of the Saar River near Dillingen, Germany on Dec 6th.
On December 12, 1944, Staff Sergeants Polvado and Zebulon Gilman were part of a platoon ordered to occupy a pillbox near Dillingen. Shortly after arriving at the position, a German counterattack hit the unit. Enemy troops succeeded in temporarily capturing the pillbox. Both men were last seen in foxholes beside the pillbox. When American forces secured the pillbox later, both soldiers were missing. Efforts to find the two men were unsuccessful, mainly due to the fact that the area was still under incessant German artillery fire. After several more days of fighting, the 90th Infantry Division retreated across the Saar before accounting for all its soldiers.
Beginning in 1946, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) was the organization tasked with recovering missing American personnel in the European Theater. Several teams went to Dillingen to recover American remains between 1946 and 1950. Investigation teams found the remains of several 90th Infantry Division soldiers killed at Dillingen in various cemeteries across the area. German soldiers or civilians had buried them after the 90th Division’s retreat in December 1944 and before American forces captured the town in March 1945. The AGRC moved the remains to the St. Avold Laboratory in France where S Sgt Gilman was identified but four other sets of remains could not be identified. They were buried as unknown soldiers in the Lorraine American Cemetery in Saint-Avold, France where Dayton’s name was listed on the Wall of the Missing. On October 8, 1951, an Army board of officers confirmed Dayton, along with 110 other missing soldiers from the Saar River, as “nonrecoverable”.
For Dayton’s courage and faithful service during World War II, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic and meritorious service in combat and the Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, signifying three separate wounds received in action.
Recent advances in DNA technology have allowed the Army researchers to take samples from relatives to assist them in identifying unknown soldiers. Maternal cousins, Lloyd Smith and Kimberly Carr Cecotti, submitted samples that made it possible for Dayton’s remains to be identified.
Now, after 81 years, his homecoming brings peace and closure to the family who has carried his memory across the generations, honoring a legacy of bravery, sacrifice, and devotion to his country.
WEATHER: Hi 78 / Lo 67, 55 % Chance of Rain, 93 % Humidity, Wind: 4 mph E
REQUESTOR: Sherry Smith Jenkins, Family SPOX
STAGING: 4:15 pm, Friday, April 10, 2026
San Antonio International Airport
Cell Phone Waiting Lot (Behind the Gas Station)
822 Airport Blvd
San Antonio Texas 78216
https://goo.gl/maps/s9GAmi27evG2
*** MOTORCYCLES ONLY***
BRIEFING: 4:30 pm
PLANE ARRIVES AT: 5:10 pm
KSU: 6:00 pm (On Cue, Semper Gumby)
WEATHER: Hi 79 / Lo 63, 44 % Chance of Rain, 98 % Humidity, Wind: 4 mph SE
DESTINATION: 7:15 pm
Crofts-Crow Funeral Home
305 E Elm Street
Johnson City, Texas 78636
https://goo.gl/maps/8vGNuBQkLVgpxXob6
We will have an Honor Line at the Funeral Home.
RC: Bob “Pizza Man” Johnson
bobtxpgr@gmail.com
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. Iron horses if you can, cages are always welcome and appreciated and unless under special circumstances not allowed in processions. You do not have to have a motorcycle to participate in honoring our veterans.
2. Safety First: Please remember to properly hydrate (including the night before) before any outdoor activity and to dress appropriately. Do not hesitate to take a break at any time if you feel you need to get in the shade or get indoors and always ask for help at any time. Also please do not forget your sun screen.
3. Please remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent, and with honor and. NO TALKING, SMOKING, CHEWING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OR CELL PHONE USE IN THE FLAG LINE!
***Safety Notice***
Before volunteering and/or attending any San Antonio Patriot Guard Riders missions we encourage you to review all safety information below. Included are some potential safety concerns to be aware of, however this does not include the full scope of all potential hazards. Anyone attending any San Antonio Patriot Guard Riders mission understands that they do so at their own risk. Neither the Patriot Guard Riders Organization nor its representatives are liable for any damages incurred on any PGR mission or event.
Funeral Processions/Escorts
EVERY RIDER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for their own safety at all times while riding in a funeral procession.
At NO TIME are any riders authorized to block any intersection or otherwise block or impede traffic laws in any way. Only Law Enforcement officials are authorized to block and/or impeded the lawful flow of traffic.
If you choose to fly a Flag on your bike you are SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for ensuring it is secured and not a danger to any other rider or traffic.
Warm Regards,
Bob “Pizza Man” Johnson
Asst. State Captain
Deputy State Captain
San Antonio Patriot Guard
Dignity, Honor, Respect
Cell: 562-413-2223
“We can’t all be heroes. Some of us get to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.”
Will Rogers