Elise and James Dayton (OHP) with Keeshawn Tyler, now 7 months old (Photo by James Dayton)

By Vickee Flynn

On the Channel 7 (ABC) news several weeks ago, there was a story about two couples who have a very special bond. One couple was called up to service in their respective reserve military units, and the other couple stepped in to take care of their infant son as well as their home. Turns out this story has a strong connection to SLAC.

Jimmy Dayton (OHP) met James Tyler (with Security at the time) about five years ago when Al Manual (SEM) introduced them to each other. Manual thought it was interesting that both of them worked at SLAC and both had purchased homes in Los Baños—as it turns out, around the corner from each other.

Tyler left SLAC in 1998 to take another job. He and his partner, Gaslyn Sweeney, continued their friendship with James and Elise Dayton. In 1999, the Daytons were in a five-car automobile accident in which both were injured. This, coupled with several deaths in the family, led to them having to sell their Los Baños home. Tyler and Sweeney invited them to live with them, and they moved into Tyler’s home over a year ago.

Tyler and Sweeney are both in the Reserves, and they both spent time in the regular army where they had met. The couple has a son, Keeshawn, who was born August 28, 2002. Little did they know that their world was about to turn upside down.

Sergeant Tyler had been called up for service and was preparing to leave for active duty when Staff Sergeant Sweeney was herself told to report in four days. She was sent to Fort Leonard, Missouri, when her son was six months old. Tyler reported shortly after to Camp Parks in Dublin, CA. They had thought at the time that Sweeney would be stationed closer to home, but it didn’t turn out that way.

Sweeney’s unit is filling in for those who were shipped overseas. Her tour of duty is for about a year. Her civilian job is at the Veteran’s Hospital in San Jose, processing patients in the clinic. "I hope to get home for Memorial Day weekend," said Sweeney. Tyler is training soldiers in the 91st Division at Camp Parks.

An ironic twist in this story is that both Sweeney and Tyler had both gotten out of active military duty just prior to the Persian Gulf war. Now, over 10 years later, they were both called to active duty. Neither expects to go overseas, but their commitment is for at least a year of active duty.

James Tyler and Gaslyn Sweeney with their son, Keeshawn. This photo was taken three days before Sweeney shipped out to Missouri. (Photo courtesy of the Daytons)

A Difficult Dilemma

Sweeney and Tyler were faced with a dilemma—where would Keeshawn stay while they were on active duty? Grandparents were back East, and they wanted him close by so that at least Tyler could visit him when he got leave. The Daytons immediately volunteered to watch over Keeshawn. "They are our angels," said Tyler.

Jimmy Dayton is the surrogate grandfather. "Our children are raised and gone," said Dayton. "It is a unique situation and we are glad we are able to help." Dayton served in the National Guard for 21-1/2 years. His wife, Elise, is taking care of Keeshawn serving as both nanny and surrogate grandmother. "It is sad that Mama isn’t here to see Keeshawn’s ‘firsts’," she said.

Tyler is able to get home, sometimes several times a week if he is lucky. There are so many soldiers called up to both camps that the overflow of reservists stay off-base in hotels while on duty since the base housing is full.

There are two other reservists from SLAC who have been called up to active duty: James Knopf and John Szelog, both in Tech Division’s ESD Department.

Stanford issued a special policy on Military Service Leave in light of the uncertain situation in the Middle East.

A regular employee who is a member of the reserve military service, and has completed 12 months of continuous employment, and is called for active duty for an extended period to commence on or after February 10, 2003, will receive leave for the period of active duty, up to 90 days. Stanford will supplement the employee’s military pay for the scheduled working days of the absence. This leave is reviewable after the 90-day period. The policy will be re-evaluated during August 2003.