Frank Zilkey was born on November 29, 1890 in Burns, Harney County, Oregon. He entered the military service in Montana and served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a Private in Company D, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action on October 9, 1918 and is now buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank Zilkey, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near the Forest of Argonne, France, October 9, 1918. After all the other members of his squad had been killed or wounded in advancing on a hostile machine-gun, Corporal Zilkey pressed forward alone in the face of direct fire from the gun, and by remarkable courage, captured both the gun and its crew. Upon his own initiative he then started out alone to attack another gun, and was killed. General Orders No. 44, W.D., 1919