1LT Dennis William Zilinski II, 23, was a rifle platoon leader with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Rakkasans), 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He and three other Soldiers were killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations in Bayji, Iraq on 19 November 2005.

While at West Point, 1LT Zilinski majored in Basic Sciences and Leadership, with his required engineering concentration in Systems Engineering. As a Cadet, Dennis also completed Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA.

1LT Zilinski received the CPT Michael W. Kilroy Award for serving as the USMA swim team captain. Dennis also received the Class of 1923 Award for being the graduating senior who exhibited qualities of leadership and sportsmanship on the swim team.
After graduation from West Point, 1LT Zilinski attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course. Dennis completed Ranger School and received his Ranger tab - a lifelong goal and his proudest accomplishment.

Dennis is survived by his father and mother, Dennis and Marion Zilinski, his fiancée, Marie Cicerelle (USMA 2004), his brothers Doug (wife Toni) Kenner and Matthew Zilinski (NJARNG), and his sisters Michele (husband David) Vaughn and Tiffany (husband Lamar) Shiver.