PVT Chester W. Payton

courtesy of Frogman

PVT Chester W. Payton was born 31 Oct 1909 in Webster, Indiana. He was the 2nd of the 3 children of Columbus and Elizabeth (Hild) Payton. His father worked as a retail grocer and then as a farmer for many years. About 1932 Chester married Opal Gladys Sweeney and they had a daughter the following year. The marriage did not last and Chester re-married Bessie Spellman before 1940. In 1940 they were living at 215 West Market Street in New Albany, Indiana where Chester worked as a baker.

Chester was drafted in October 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to Europe and on 22 Jun 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry. PVT Payton was killed in action on 30 Jun 1944.

PVT Payton rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery. There is also a cenotaph in the Bethany United Methodist Cemetery in New Middleton, Indiana.

Chester's great-grandfather, Thomas H. Ellis, served as a PVT in I Company 11th Indiana Cavalry in the Civil War.