Our Story

LCPL Dayton Hornickel served in the United States Marine Corps from 2018-2021.  He was stationed at Kaneohe Bay, HI, 3/3, Machine Gunner, 0331, Lima Company.  While on deployment in Japan he was injured.  Immediate surgery was needed and 2 more surgeries followed.  

As parents we had to have faith that the military had Dayton's best interest at heart, while his older brother, Darion, served alongside him and his younger brother, Dawson, joined the Navy.  Dayton was Honorably Discharged with an injury that was still not corrected.  He returned home in August, 2021, and we immediately went to work finding him a doctor with the hopes his injury could be fixed.

When the civilian doctor told him he could surgically fix part of his injury but he may never be 100% again, I saw defeat in his face, but he put on a smile and said “Let’s do it.”  He did not make it to his pre-op appointment on September 16, 2021, as he took his own life the morning of.  

"To know Dayton was to love him."   Dayton was one of the brightest, wisest boys you would have ever known.  He was funny, witty, sarcastic, charming, kind hearted, loving, fiercely loyal and dedicated to everything he set his mind to.  He was generous beyond belief and would have given you the shirt off his back.  He always gave 100%, whether it be in sports, work, video games, friendship or family.

Dayton's entire Marine platoon, youth baseball team, high school football team, as well as coaches, family, friends near and far and his community came to pay their respect and show their love and admiration for him.  

Dayton was only 22 years old.  On average 22 veterans a day die by suicide.  That means 21 other families were going through the same devastation we were on September 16, 2021 and 22 more families are going through it, as you read this.  That is an alarming number and an unnecessary one.  Veterans need to know how much they are loved & how they are never a burden.  They need to know how much their sacrifice means to us.  They need to know they matter and that tomorrow needs them!  The surviving families also need to know that when tragedy strikes, they are not alone & that we are here for them in any way possible.  And that is what we have set out to do! 

1441 represents Dayton's athletic numbers growing up.  He was #41 through Pop Warner & travel baseball.  As an up and coming quarterback at Lowell High School he changed his number to #14.  We went back to his roots to name our foundation The 1441 Foundation.