Charles “Chuck” Franzke was born in November 1925 in Wellington, Kansas and grew up in Topeka, Kansas. His father had German parents and fought in World War 1 [Annotator's Note: World War 1, global war originating in Europe; 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918]. His father was a salesman, but lost his job during the Depression [Annotator's Note: The Great Depression was a global economic depression that lasted from 1929 through 1939 in the United States] before eventually finding employment with the Kansas state government. Franzke was the eldest of three sons and they grew up in poverty. His mother told him that he had to set a good example for his younger brothers. He was unaware of the coming war until the attack on Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. While preparing to graduate from high school, Franzke was encouraged by his father to take a test to join the Navy V-12 program [Annotator’s Note: V-12 US Navy College Training Program, 1943 to 1946]. Excelling at math, Franzke was one of two students at his school selected for admission to the program.

While preparing to graduate from high school, Charles “Chuck” Franzke was encouraged by his father to take a test to join the Navy V-12 program [Annotator’s Note: V-12 US Navy College Training Program, 1943 to 1946]. Excelling at math, Franzke was one of two students at his school selected for admission to the program. In 1943, he attended Kansas State Teachers College [Annotator’s Note: known today as Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas] for V-12 training. Not only was he challenged academically, but also physically. He had a knack for running and hurdling. On some weekends, he returned home to Topeka [Annotator’s Note: Topeka, Kansas] by hitchhiking to visit his parents. It took him some time to adjust to the military discipline and decorum. Upon finishing the educational portion of the program, Franzke was sent to midshipmen school at Northwestern University [Annotator’s Note: in Evanston, Illinois] where he learned to command and land an LST [Annotator's Note: Landing Ship, Tank]. [Annotator’s Note: police sirens in background at 0:22:38.000.] After he received his commission in April 1945, Franzke received orders to deploy to Okinawa [Annotator’s Note: Okinawa, Japan] to take command of a ship. While aboard a train to the West Coast, Franzke heard news that the atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima [Annotator's Note: nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 6 and 9 August 1945]. Franzke was disappointed that he would not get to do what he had trained to do for the past two years.

Charles “Chuck” Franzke’s orders were changed after the Japanese surrendered [Annotator’s Note: announced 15 August 1945, and he was reassigned to the USS Helm (DD-338) as a gunnery officer and met the ship in Okinawa [Annotator’s Note: Okinawa, Japan]. When Franzke found out that he would not be part of the Japanese invasion [Annotator’s Note: codenamed Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of the Japanese Home Islands that never materialized due to the surrender], he felt cheated out of his opportunity to command a ship of his own. Many of the officers on ship were retirable because they had been deployed for so long, so Franzke was quickly promoted to a senior role. Franzke had great respect for Harry Truman [Annotator's Note: Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States] and any president because they were the Commander in Chief. The ship got underway, and Franzke participated in minesweeping and escort operations along the Japanese coast for about a year. Franzke had the opportunity to go ashore at Okinawa and he thought the civilians and Japanese were very friendly. After a year, he returned to the United States and was discharged with the rating of ensign. [Annotator’s Note: Interviewee pauses interview to speak to his wife at 0:45:23.000.]

Charles “Chuck” Franzke’s most memorable experience of World War 2 was visiting Nagasaki after the atomic bomb [Annotator's Note: nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 6 and 9 August 1945]. He was in awe of the damage. [Annotator’s Note: Sirens are heard in background at 0:48:15.000.] He wonders if the bombs were not dropped, he probably would not have survived the war. He served because everyone his age served. He was pleased to help his country. After the war, Franzke wanted to return to school. Macy’s Department Store had an executive development program, and he was hired after his father persuaded him to apply. World War 2 made Franzke grow up faster and become more responsible. His service taught him how to respect people and have courage. Everyone in his generation was involved in the war. Franzke believes there should be institutions like the National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana], and that we should continue to teach World War 2 to future generations because it was such an enormous event in our nation’s history.