Christian Franklin Schilt was born on March 18, 1895, in Olney, Richland County, Illinois. He was the son of Frederick Wilhelm "Fred" Schilt and Anna Cornelius Joerris Schilt. He was married to Elizabeth Weber Schilt. After attending Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute, Indiana, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 23, 1917.

General Schilt had a distinguished career as a Marine aviator, serving in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. He began his service in the 1st Marine Aeronautical Company, later becoming a Marine aviator in 1919. He gained recognition for his heroism in Nicaragua, earning the Medal of Honor in 1928 for evacuating wounded Marines under enemy fire. During World War II, he played a key role in the Guadalcanal Campaign and commanded Marine Aircraft Group 11 in the Pacific. He later held leadership positions in the Air Defense Command on Okinawa and other key aviation commands.

During the Korean War, he commanded the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, later becoming Deputy Commander, of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and Director of Aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps in 1955. After the war, Schilt continued in leadership roles, commanding the Marine Air Reserve Training Command and serving as Chief of Staff, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and retired in 1957 as a full General. He died on January 8, 1987, and is now buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Source of information: en.wikipedia.org