Frank Santos was born in Charleston, SC, on July 18, 1920 to Carroll Santos and Theodora M. Graddick and was one of ten children. He graduated Cum Laude from Notre Dame in June 1941, then from NAS Miami in May 1942 as a naval aviator. He was a Navy Pilot at NAS San Diego (6/1942-8/1942), Gunnery Officer for the USS Altamaha (VGS-11) (8/1942-11/1942), Parachute Officer with VF-33 on USS Nassau and USS Breton (11/1942-3/1944), and VF Flight Instructor at NAS Melbourne (3/1944-2/1945). He received the Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement while participating in aerial attacks against the Japanese while piloting a Grumman Hellcat with VF-33 in the Solomon Islands. On October 15, 1943, while escorting bombers in a vigorous attack on the strongly defended Ballale Airfield, Lt. Santos engaged with 27 hostile aircraft, shooting down one and sharing in the destruction of another. He was commended by Admiral Halsey for dealing "the enemy damaging blows, demonstrating marked ability as a flight leader, tireless attention to duty and courage in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." After his military service, he graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in February 1949 and worked briefly for the F.B.I, then as an attorney in San Diego from 1950-1956. Santos was a resident of Chula Vista with his wife, Grace Adeline Turner, and their four children. He died February 4, 1962.