Michael Franzak

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]