When Zeno William Pearce was born on September 19, 1895, in Seattle, Washington, his father, Joseph, was 32 and his mother, Cora, was 23. He entered the military service in California and served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Private First Class in Company C, 1st Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action on July 20, 1918 and is now buried in Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Seringes-et- Nesles, France. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 20, 1918. When volunteers were tailed for by his company commander, Pvt. Pearce volunteered and rescued wounded comrades from a barrage. Disregarding danger to himself, he continued the performance of these heroic deeds until killed.