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." He joined the Navy in 1981. Franzak attended boot camp, and then served as an aviation ordinanceman with VF-1 aboard the USS Ranger and USS Kitty Hawk. In 2005, Franzak received the
Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" for his combat action on August 25, 2003. 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. He rescued a pinned-down Army reserve unit in Afghanistan. Along with the Distinguished Flying Cross, he is also the recipient of the Air Medal with strike award number "5" and many other awards. Franzak retired in 2006. He now works as a contract pilot, where one of his duties is to "fly ice cream and parts and people around." ==Author==