Captain D. A. Franz, U. S. Navy, Commanding Officer of the USS
DeHaven (DD-727), was promoted to his present rank on 1 October 1967.
Captain Franz, a native of Adams, Massachusetts, received his commission in
the United States Navy in 1944 upon graduating from the Merchant Marine
Academy. He served aboard the attack cargo ship USS Andromdeda (AKA-15) until 1946, following which he transferred to the inactive
reserve and entered Renesselear Polytechnic Institute. He graduated in
1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. During
this same year, he was also promoted to Lieutenant.
Upon recall to active duty, Captain Franz served as navigator on the
attack transport USS New Kent (APA-214) and as Operations Officer
on the amphibious command, ship USS Mount Olympus (AGC-8). He
reported for duty to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in 1954 and later to
Tufts University to further his studies in the field of Engineering. He
next served as Executive Officer of the destroyer USS Borie (DD-704). After instructing Naval Operations at the U. S. Naval Academy
from 1960 to 1962, Captain Franz became a student again as he
undertook postgraduate study in Navy Management at Monterey, California.
His next assignment was as Commanding Officer, Military Sea Transportation
Service, Manila, Republic of the Philippines.
CaptainFranz assumed command of the USS DeHaven in June of 1966. During his
tenure as Commanding Officer, DeHaven has steamed over 85,000 miles
and fired over 22,000 rounds of naval gunfire support in Vietnam. The ship
has participated in the rescue of pilots shot down while over Vietnam and
as a rescue destroyer assigned to carriers operating in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Captain Franz is married to the former Emily Sommer of Adams,
Massachusetts, and has two sons, Donald Jr., and Roger, and one daughter,
Deborah.
Captain Franz, a native of Adams, Massachusetts, received his commission in
the United States Navy in 1944 upon graduating from the Merchant Marine
Academy. He served aboard the attack cargo ship USS Andromdeda (AKA-15) until 1946, following which he transferred to the inactive
reserve and entered Renesselear Polytechnic Institute. He graduated in
1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. During
this same year, he was also promoted to Lieutenant.
CaptainFranz assumed command of the USS DeHaven in June of 1966. During his
tenure as Commanding Officer, DeHaven has steamed over 85,000 miles
and fired over 22,000 rounds of naval gunfire support in Vietnam. The ship
has participated in the rescue of pilots shot down while over Vietnam and
as a rescue destroyer assigned to carriers operating in the Gulf of Tonkin.