Frank I. Keyser was born on March 4, 1920 and lived in Spring City, Pennsylvania. Frank was one of three children. Records are unclear, but it appears Frank became an orphan and lived at the Methodist Episcopal Orphanage in Philadelphia according to the 1930 Census.
Frank obtained employment at Pennhurst State School as a switchboard operator. Pennhurst was a state run school for the mentally and physically handicapped located just outside Spring City, established in 1908 closed in 1986. It could house up to 10,000 patients.
Frank enlisted in the Army on March 2, 1942. After training he was assigned to serve with the 27th Infantry Regiment, of the 25th Infantry Division. The 25th Infantry “Tropic Lighting” Division, is where Heroes John Toth, Frank Pinter and Joseph Marz served.