Frank Gaunt was born on April 11, 1918, in North Platte, Nebraska. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on November 7, 1941, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Mather Field, California, on May 21, 1942. His first assignment was with the 44th Fighter Squadron of the 18th Fighter Group, where he served in Hawaii and at Guadalcanal from May 1942 to February 1944. During this time he was credited with destroying 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 probable and 1 damaged, while flying P-40 Warhawk and P-38 Lightning fighters. Capt Gaunt then returned to the U.S. and served as an instructor pilot until April 1945, when he joined the 318th Fighter Squadron of the 325th Fighter Group in Italy. He returned to the U.S. in October 1945, and left active duty on February 22, 1946. Maj Gaunt remained in the Air Force Reserve until October 5, 1954. After the war, Frank completed Medical School and worked as a physician for many years. He died on January 15, 2006.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

For gallantry in action over the Soloman Islands on 15 July 1943. While leading a flight of P-40s engaged in combat with a numerically superior force of enemy aircraft Captain Guant personally shot down three Japanese Zeros and assisted in successfully dispersing the others.