Lieutenant Colonel Michael V. Franzak | |
---|---|
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | Navy, Marine Corps |
Years of service | Navy: 1981-1983; Marine Corps: 1987-2006 |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat V, Air Medal with strike #5 |
Lieutenant Colonel Michael "Zak" Franzak (Ret.) is an American writer. He is the author of A Nightmare's Prayer, his memoir. Currently, Franzak lives in Holly Springs, North Carolina with his wife, son, and daughter. [1]
When Franzak graduated from high school, it was not his original plan to join the Navy. According to Franzak, he was "desperate and had nowhere to go." [2] He joined the Navy in 1981. [3] [4] [5] Franzak attended boot camp, and then served as an aviation ordinanceman with VF-1 aboard the USS Ranger and USS Kitty Hawk. [4]
In 1983, he was presented the NROTC scholarship, while on active duty. [3] [4] Franzak attended Texas A&M University. While attending school, he decided to change his line of service from Navy to Marine Corps. [2] [4] In 1987, Franzak graduated from college with military and academic awards. He was also commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. [3]
In May 1988, Franzak graduated from The Basic School, where he earned honors and finished at the top of his class. [4]
In 1990, he was "winged," [4] and till 2006, Franzak flew AV-8B Harriers. This particular jet has an accident rate three times higher than the other Marine Corps' airplane, F-18 Hornet, and is known by the name, the "Widow Maker." [6]
In 2002 and 2003, Franzak was deployed to Afghanistan as a Marine jet fighter pilot. He was a part of "The Flying Nightmares" squadron. [6] Franzak served as an executive officer of VMA-513 [7] Because the air was too thin due to the mountains in Afghanistan, Franzak and his crew had to fly by night and sleep during the day. [8]
In 2005, Franzak received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" for his combat action on August 25, 2003. [1] [3] [6] [9] Franzak earned this particular award for his "heroism while participating in aerial flight, while serving as pilot of an AV-8B Harrier" in Bagram, Afghanistan. [9] He rescued a pinned-down Army reserve unit in Afghanistan. [5] Along with the Distinguished Flying Cross, he is also the recipient of the Air Medal with strike award number "5" and many other awards. [3]
Franzak retired in 2006. [3] He now works as a contract pilot, where one of his duties is to "fly ice cream and parts and people around." [6]
Franzak's memoir was published in 2010. It was the "first Afghanistan memoir to be published by a Marine Harrier pilot." [1] The basis of the book comes from the three journals he kept while in Afghanistan. [2] [6] Franzak has said the book addresses "combat, love, sacrifice, and fear." [7]
Franzak donated a portion of his royalties to TAPS, a nonprofit organization assisting families and friends of fallen soldiers. [7]
In 2012, Franzak's memoir, A Nightmare's Prayer won the William E. Colby Award. [1]
Lieutenant Colonel Michael V. Franzak | |
---|---|
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | Navy, Marine Corps |
Years of service | Navy: 1981-1983; Marine Corps: 1987-2006 |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat V, Air Medal with strike #5 |
Lieutenant Colonel Michael "Zak" Franzak (Ret.) is an American writer. He is the author of A Nightmare's Prayer, his memoir. Currently, Franzak lives in Holly Springs, North Carolina with his wife, son, and daughter. [1]
When Franzak graduated from high school, it was not his original plan to join the Navy. According to Franzak, he was "desperate and had nowhere to go." [2] He joined the Navy in 1981. [3] [4] [5] Franzak attended boot camp, and then served as an aviation ordinanceman with VF-1 aboard the USS Ranger and USS Kitty Hawk. [4]
In 1983, he was presented the NROTC scholarship, while on active duty. [3] [4] Franzak attended Texas A&M University. While attending school, he decided to change his line of service from Navy to Marine Corps. [2] [4] In 1987, Franzak graduated from college with military and academic awards. He was also commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. [3]
In May 1988, Franzak graduated from The Basic School, where he earned honors and finished at the top of his class. [4]
In 1990, he was "winged," [4] and till 2006, Franzak flew AV-8B Harriers. This particular jet has an accident rate three times higher than the other Marine Corps' airplane, F-18 Hornet, and is known by the name, the "Widow Maker." [6]
In 2002 and 2003, Franzak was deployed to Afghanistan as a Marine jet fighter pilot. He was a part of "The Flying Nightmares" squadron. [6] Franzak served as an executive officer of VMA-513 [7] Because the air was too thin due to the mountains in Afghanistan, Franzak and his crew had to fly by night and sleep during the day. [8]
In 2005, Franzak received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" for his combat action on August 25, 2003. [1] [3] [6] [9] Franzak earned this particular award for his "heroism while participating in aerial flight, while serving as pilot of an AV-8B Harrier" in Bagram, Afghanistan. [9] He rescued a pinned-down Army reserve unit in Afghanistan. [5] Along with the Distinguished Flying Cross, he is also the recipient of the Air Medal with strike award number "5" and many other awards. [3]
Franzak retired in 2006. [3] He now works as a contract pilot, where one of his duties is to "fly ice cream and parts and people around." [6]
Franzak's memoir was published in 2010. It was the "first Afghanistan memoir to be published by a Marine Harrier pilot." [1] The basis of the book comes from the three journals he kept while in Afghanistan. [2] [6] Franzak has said the book addresses "combat, love, sacrifice, and fear." [7]
Franzak donated a portion of his royalties to TAPS, a nonprofit organization assisting families and friends of fallen soldiers. [7]
In 2012, Franzak's memoir, A Nightmare's Prayer won the William E. Colby Award. [1]