Franklin Marion “Zip” Koons was born on January 24, 1919, in Harrison Township, Kossuth County, Iowa. He was the son of Oliver Bennett Koons and Lottie Gettman Koons. He was the husband of June Evonne Anderson Koons. He graduated from Grant Consolidated High School in 1938 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941.

Koons served in Company D, 1st Ranger Battalion, as a Corporal during World War II. He was one of 50 US Army Rangers who participated with British Commando on the Dieppe raid in 1942. He made the landing, was involved in active sniping, and received a Military Medal from the British. He also received a Silver Star Medal from General George Patton. Koons continued fighting with the Rangers until he was transferred home in November of 1943. While home he became known as the first American soldier to kill a German on European soil.

Cpl Koons was promoted to Lieutenant and returned to the European theater with an artillery unit. He was called back to active duty in 1950 with the Army of Occupation in Germany. He retired from the service in 1952 with the rank of First Lieutenant. 1Lt Koons died on October 6, 2006, and is now buried in Harrison Township Cemetery, Swea City, Kossuth County, Iowa, USA.

Source of information: wwiirangers.org, www.findagrave.com