Michael Franzak

Last updated
Lieutenant Colonel

Michael V. Franzak
Allegiance United States
Service/branch Navy, Marine Corps
Years of serviceNavy: 1981-1983; Marine Corps: 1987-2006
RankLieutenant Colonel
AwardsDistinguished 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 Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, son, and daughter. [1]

Contents

Military

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]

Author

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]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "'A Nightmare's Prayer wins 2012 Colby Award". Armchair General. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Davis, Susan; Stasio, Frank (19 March 2012). "Meet Mike Franzak". WUNC 91.5 North Carolina Public Radio. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mike Franzak". William E. Colby: Military Writers' Symposium. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Michael Franzak". Fresh Fiction. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Va. Marine Awarded Flying Cross". Daily Press. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Hansen, Liane (24 October 2010). "Nightmare's Prayer':A Jet Fighter's Missions". NPR. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 Cohen, Debbie (14 July 2010). "Authors join forces to support TAPS". Huntington Patch. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Steelman, Ben (12 June 2010). "Book Review- Former Marine recalls flying Afghan missions in 'A Nightmare's Prayer'". Star News online. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Valor awards for Michael V. Franzak". Military Times: Hall of Valor. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
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