| From: John Peters NC Date: 13 January 2003 Subject: National Commander's Award has a new name January 13, 2003: Following the National Board of Directors vote, the AYES have it and the National Commanders Award has a new name: The Robert Link National Commanders Award. The winner is selected by the current NC and this award will honor the memory of our FIRST National Commander, Bob Link. The Robert Link National Commanders Award. This is our (USSVI) version of a “Letter of Commendation.” The nomination, selection, and presentation of this award is solely the National Commanders’ discretion and it is awarded to an individual Member, Base or Group for special recognition by the National Commander. WHO WAS BOB LINK? Bob Link was one of the guys who was on the ground floor of establishing SV WWII in 1955, and was the Second National Commander. Later on in 1962 - 1964, he was very heavily involved with getting USSVI started. He and Joe Negri worked side by side, and they did just as much to start this organization. Bob probably did more in starting the organization than Joe did simply because Joe was deployed to the Med for most of the late part of 1963, and Early 1964 while USSVI was getting started. But if you read the USSVI history, there is very little mention of Bob Link from Abescon NJ. But because of this guy two great organizations were formed to remember other Submarine heroes from WWII and the past. But unfortunately Bob was from NJ and not CT. Bob didn't persuade the membership to buy a club house that was later named for him like Joe did. Bob Link basically faded into oblivion, because no one really made an effort to keep his spirit alive. No body treated him like a hero like Joe Negri was. Until today, there was no Bob Link Award in USSVI but now we will keep his memory alive through The Robert Link National Commanders Award, just as we do for Joe Negri. Thank the Groton Base CDR John "Gumba" Carcioppolo for reminding us of Bob Link's contribution to starting USSVI. Aloha |