The last 4/c Link In The Chain event for 2022 was the 4/c Formal Dinner and Dance held on 23 March 2019.  CGA 2022 invited our class to the formal and ten of us were able to honor our LITC class by attending.  Art and Carolyn Butler won the honor for coming the farthest, driving from Plymouth Michigan.  For those of us who did our graduate work at U of M in Ann Arbor you probably remember Plymouth Road out past North Campus to nearby Plymouth.  For some reason Art is still partial to the Big Green Machine of MSU, but he and I still posed for one of the pics with our LITC Cadet Bella Allman from Grand Haven MI, who, just like Art, took two years at MSU to prepare herself for the Academy.  Others who attended were Herb Williams RI, John Larned RI, Larry and Carol Brudnicki NH, Charlie McCarthy CT, Tom Meisenzahl CT, Jim Norton CT, Jim McCarthy MA, Buck Baley MA, and Greg Johnson PA. One of Larry Brudnicki’s LITC cadets, 4/c David Satow from NH is my LITC POC and coordinator.  And Brad Nieson’s LITC cadet Rasa Kirvelevicius from CT is the class VP and helped out greatly with logistics. 

    The first order of business was to meet for lunch Saturday at noon at one of Charlie McCarthy’s favorite hangouts, Filomena’s in Waterford.  Charlie, Tiger, Buck, Larry and Carol, Art and Carolyn, and Greg held down the lunch court and caught up on years of sea stories.  For the formal dinner, Tiger had brought with him 308 Lindt Truffles from Boston for the after dinner chocolates. Charlie, Buck, Tom and I helped defray the costs.  After we adjourned from lunch, Tiger, Buck and I stopped by CGA and with the help of Brad Nieson’s LITC Rasa K, my LITC Kaleigh O’Connor, and Jim McIntire’s LITC Santa Andrianaivo, we put one truffle under each of the overturned coffee cups at the 300 seats in the Cadet Wardroom.  The wardroom had 38 tables set up in formal fare and was really beautiful by wardroom standards.  By the way, word quickly spread that 72 had made such a gesture with the truffles and it was very much appreciated.  BZ to Tiger for making the effort.

    We had the rest of the afternoon off and regrouped at the Chase Hall Quarterdeck at 1845.  Each one of us were assigned a table of 8.  Eight of us had LITC cadets who we had been communicating with over the year and those cadets were at our respective tables.  So for the most part the escorts were our LITC cadets.  That was somewhat a surprise and so when the escorts showed up it was the first time some of us had ever seen our LITC cadets.  That was so very special.  We made our way to the entrance to the wardroom and after the rest of the 4/c had arrived at their seats, we were escorted into the wardroom with the Admiral and Class Advisor, kind of like the ‘official party’. The class president 4/c Dalton Stoves-PC Smith’s LITC Cadet, the Class Advisor LT Summerlin, and ADM Rendon gave a few remarks. As part of 4/c Stoves remarks he recognized the class of 72 and when we stood up, it was seemed to me there was surprise that we had such a good showing.  And then I found it interesting that in the Admiral’s words, this event was being viewed as a celebration looking forward to completing 4/c year and to the upcoming summer training.  I think when we had our 4/c formal I didn’t think of it as a celebration, but how many more days we had to endure before we were no longer SWABs.  But that bubble faded as dinner was served.  Now days, there is a contractor who prepares the meals and the contractors did the serving as would be in a fine restaurant.  There was a salad, then soup, the main dish, dessert and coffee.  It was quite well done.

    By the way, you may have heard that the 4/c take an oral indoc board during the month of March. Basically the 2/c will ask 10 random questions (some with more than one part) from the entire Running Lights.  80% is passing but there are some questions that are ‘must know’.   Once everyone in the class passes, the class gets carryon for the remainder of the year. So that was a big topic of discussion.  By the date of the formal, 3 classmates had yet to pass and they were being tutored by their classmates for their next try sometime the last week in March.  However, as of this post, 4/3/2019, my spies tell me the three had yet to pass.  No carryon yet. 
  

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     I think the following from Herb Williams sums up the evening perfectly from the standpoint of being involved in the LITC. 

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L-R, Back: David, Satow, Larry Joe
Front:  Kealy, Carol, Katie, Roys

Erin Edwards, Ella Firenzi,

 Charlie McCarthy, NayalinaTamariz

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     Along these lines from Herb, I have to mention, after the dinner I went over to Art’s table to talk with him, Carolyn and their LITC Cadet Anne Allman.  I didn’t notice at the time, but all the 4/c from my table politely hung around until I was finished talking with Art and then they came up to me as a group, but then individually and sincerely thanked me and our class for celebrating their first year with them.  At first I was surprised, but then it dawned on me that these young cadets are not like their civilian peers I’m used to back home.  They truly are exceptional and the CG is fortunate that they will be the future of our CG.   

 
Here are two thankyous the 4/c leadership sent me:

  
CAPT Johnson! It was an honor having you and your classmates attend our 4/c formal.  We are delighted to have such a wonderful class connected to us.  It will be exciting to begin sharing sea stories in both directions as we begin our summer.  And yes, pictures will be available in the next couple of weeks.  The link will be sent out to those who attended the formal. 
v/r 4/c Rasa K  2022 Class VP      Rasa Kirvelevicius is Brad Nieson's LITC cadet. 
  
Captain Johnson, I hope you and all of the class of ’72 LITC members had a safe trip back home and enjoyed the time at the Academy for the formal this past weekend.  I know that all of my classmates I have talked to enjoyed having the LITC members there to talk to.  Thank you again for taking the time to make the trip to the Academy.  I look forward to furthering the bond between our classes.
v/r 4/c    David Satow,  2023 LITC Coordinator   David is Larry Brudnicki’s LITC cadet
  
And From several LITC Cadets to their 72 LITC:

 
   Thank you so very much for the picture.  And thank you again for coming to our Formal.  It was great to see you again.

  
   Thank you for coming to our 4/c formal!! You made it really special for me and it wouldn’t have been the same without you.

   
   We are so elated that you were able to come and spend time with us.  You have shown us that we truly have the coolest, kindest, and most generous LITC member.  You are a blessing in our lives and can’t wait to see you again. 

    The next 2022 LITC event is tentatively set for Tuesday 20 Aug 2019 with an optional opportunity on Monday 19 Aug.  This is the first week back from summer training events and a new academic year as 3/c cadets…their first stripe!!!  Put those dates on your calendar and help us make this a memorable return to CGA for this great class of 2022.  Go 72 Go 22 Go Bears!!!! 

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Additional photos submitted by Tiger

Jim McCarthy & Larry Brudnicki Wardroom Table Charlie McCarthy in Receiving Line	Receiving Line