While attending school, he decided to change his line of service from Navy to Marine Corps.
[3] In May 1988, Franzak graduated from The Basic School, where he earned honors and finished at the top of his class.
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.
[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.
[3] He now works as a contract pilot, where one of his duties is to "fly ice cream and parts and people around.
"[7] Franzak donated a portion of his royalties to TAPS, a nonprofit organization assisting families and friends of fallen soldiers.