'Dancing Chuck' From Waukesha Busts A Move In New Video

WAUKESHA, WI— A World War II veteran who went viral as "Dancing Chuck," has returned with a new groove. Chuck Franzke, of Waukesha, made another dancing video to celebrate his upcoming 98th birthday on Dec. 22.

This time Franzke added some holiday flair for viewers. In the video posted by the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, Franzke is holding a faux newspaper headline. He gets up out of his chair and starts dancing to a Christmas tune.

The first dance that Franzke recorded with SSHF was in December 2016.

Karyn Roelke of SSHF said:

"When I was taping veterans’ messages of thanks to our volunteers. I needed something fun for the credits of the video I was making and had seen Chuck dancing around his living room so I asked if he would dance for the camera to Christmas music. He enthusiastically complied and we had so much fun with it that we decided to make it an annual event. Every year he gets a bit more popular, and his extra “pandemic dance” on his front step last spring was seen and shared by millions worldwide."

This past April, the dancing vet did a dance video to Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling." The video went viral and even Timberlake said in an online interview he became choked up after watching it.

About 'Dancing Chuck'

The veteran flew torpedo bombers (Grumman Avenger is the name of the plane) for the Navy in 1945, near the end of the war, to keep shipping lanes open on the South Pacific. He was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Saginaw Bay. He did not see serious combat but did have to take off and land from a carrier, which is dangerous in itself. His rank was Ensign, according to the SSHF.

Franzke took his Stars and Stripes Honor Flight in November of 2011. An Honor Flight brings the community together to thank veterans with an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington DC to see their memorials and to experience a full day of honor and thanks for their service, according to the SSHF website.

The Stars and Stripes Honor Flight ambassadors Chuck and Beverly Franzke recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. They dated for almost six years before getting married. He shipped an engagement ring home to his parents from the carrier for his parents to give Bev for Christmas.

Chuck says “love gets you to the altar, but trust and respect get you through the next 75 years.