TOP STORY OF THE DAY, brought to you free by WICU: Clay City grad eager to help defend country in Navy

SUBMITTED PHOTO - Calvin Fry

On Veterans Day, each year, we take time to honor those men and women who have served for our country. Whether it be the past or present, injured or deceased, we pay tribute to those of the red, white, and blue. Many soldiers that are currently in training, at boot camp, or actively serving go unnoticed, or get caught in the general Veterans Day applause. The future of our military is lined by these brave, strong, and courageous men and women.

Their stories are often faint, but become bold as their years in service unfold. Their shine follows them in tenure years, but today, they are diamonds in the rough. Diamonds that are rare, lucky to be found, and buffering to find the perfect placement. Calvin Fry is about to begin his big debut, officially in the service as a submarine officer.

Fry, a 2018 graduate of Clay City Jr. Sr. High School, made a decision on his future in the summer of 2017.

That summer he decided that he was going to apply to the Naval Academy to potentially serve in the United States military. Prior to that year, he had zero intentions of joining the military.

His father was his biggest inspiration in joining. Looking back, he remembers all the stories that his dad would tell him about the Navy. Again then, not having any intentions of making some of those memories himself. Fast forward to today, he remarks, “As I learn and continue to learn more about the military, it really makes me appreciate his service and everything he has done more.”

Applying to the Naval Academy is not as easy as applying to college. From congressional nominations, questionnaires, essays, and interviews, to the candidate fitness and health assessments, the application process is far from easy. In a normal year, the application opens in June to where anybody can begin the first phase. Phase one includes getting your congressional nominations. For Fry, he underwent an interview process to receive his nominations in the fall of 2017. He received nominations from Senator Todd Young, a Naval Academy graduate himself, and Congressman Larry Bucshon. Once he received his nominations, he was able to move forward with the application process. He filled out the questionnaires, essays, and was in contact with a Blue and Gold Officer, BGO to aid him in the procedure.

He then had to pass his physical health assessments, which included pushups, sit-ups, basketball throws, pull-ups, and a one mile run. From there he completed his application, and got medically screened by doctors, for health clearance. Then, the waiting game began. Normally an applicant would have to wait until mid-April, but Fry was put on a waiting list, adding over a month to his wait time.

Early May of 2018 Calvin was accepted into the United States Naval Academy. From that point forward, his journey began. The academy has phases, similar to that in a college year setting. The difference being, intense training, harsh conditions, long trials, and strenuous activities. He underwent I-day, Plebe Summer, Plebe Year, Sea Trials, Herndon Monument Climb to wrap up the end of Plebe Year.

Youngster’s Cruise was next in his timeline of events, which he got to go to Guam on the Topeka, a fast attack submarine, for this trial. Then he competed Offshore Team Sailing where he learned to sail a sixty-six foot sailboat with seven other midshipmen with an XO and a Skipper. His team’s skipper was a former Navy captain and astronaut. Fry remarks on the man with, “He was a really cool guy.” They sailed from Annapolis to Long Island, New York and stayed for about a week. Then back to the academy he went to start his Youngster Year.

His Youngster Year was cut short after spring break due to the Coronavirus outbreak in early 2020. That didn’t stop Fry from returning to the academy at his first opportunity. He went back in June of that year to be a detailer for the class of 2024’s Plebe Summer. In the spring of that second year, he served as a squad leader in his company. He was in charge of ten other midshipmen, all the while participating in the Drum and Bugle Corps, where he was also a squad leader in charge of twenty more mids.

That following summer he completed an internship at NSWC Crane where he got to see a lot of the projects and work that they do there. That brings us to today, where he serves as his company’s adjutant. He oversees all of the duty sections and trains all of the company watches.

Altogether, he is in training to become a Navy or Marine Corps officer after graduation and commissioning. He states, “I already know that I’ll become a submarine officer,” referring to his duty after graduation.

As he reflects back on the points that got him here today he says that his two biggest accomplishments were getting through Plebe Summer and Plebe year. “They say, once you finish both of those in your second or third year through the academy, it’s up from there.”

Other accomplishments that he has received going into graduation was when his company won the title of Iron Company at Sea Trials. That meant that his company performed the best through the entire twenty hour evolution. “It is not an easy task by any means,” he added. He was proud to get selected as a member of Plebe Summer and receive early selecting submarines and being able to complete that interview process as well. That allowed him to know his position after graduation, while others in his same class will not know until November seventeenth.

All the long hard days, questionable moments, and doubtful times have made Fry a stronger individual. He agrees with the statement, “I’ve really enjoyed being at the academy and serving.” He continues, “Without a doubt there are a lot of long, hard days, but in the end, it’s all for a purpose.”

When asked outside of inspirations, why he decided to join the academy he answered rather simply, “To obtain a free education,” but quickly continued with, “This is a question they often discuss at the academy. After some time, you begin to realize the vast amount of reasons that others join,” he added. However, what really matters he continued, “Is why you stay, that’s because you realize that you are part of something bigger than yourself and that your job, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is serving a purpose.”

Asking about free time at the academy is not an uncommon question. However, the answer, Fry stated, “You have very limited time each weekend to choose what you want to do,” he and his peers commonly describe it with this quote, “If you’re not sleeping, studying, or working out, you’re doing something wrong.”

After graduation, Fry will serve for five years as a commissioned officer. After that placement, he will decide if he will continue on his military journey. Right now, he thinks he’ll stay in, but time will tell. To the younger generation he advises them to become a part of something bigger than yourself. No matter how hard or bad things are, “Always keep a good attitude and push through,” “Sooner or later things will get better.” He also advises to, “Never be afraid to ask for help, while a person can accomplish amazing things on their own, a good team will be able to accomplish even greater things.”

On this Veteran’s Day, take the time to thank each and every serviceman or woman, past, present, or upcoming future. Their choice to enroll, serve, and protect, was not easy, but as Fry puts it, “It’s becoming a part of something bigger than yourself.”

Thank you for your service, Calvin.