Frank William Smith was a member of Burlington High School's Class of 1940 and a member of the school's varsity baseball team.

Years after his days as a Burlington Tiger, Smith served his country as a Lieutenant, Junior Grade, in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II.

On February 18, 1945, while participating in operations against Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, Smith served as pilot of a torpedo bomber with Composite Squadron Eighty-Five.

For his actions that day, Smith was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the United States military's awards recognizing heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.