Franklin Zilkey’s younger brother Julius Charles Zilkey was killed in action on the same day, October 9, 1918, that Franklin was killed. Another younger brother, Julius Charles Zilkey also earned the Distinguished Service Cross in World War I.
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Franklin Zilkey’s younger brother Julius Charles Zilkey was killed in action on the same day, October 9, 1918, that Franklin was killed. Another younger brother, Julius Charles Zilkey also earned the Distinguished Service Cross in World War I.
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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Franklin Lee Zilkey (ASN: 42419), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near the Forest of Argonne, France, 9 October 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.