The USS Illinois (SSN 786), a Virginia-class submarine, is a nuclear-powered, next-generation attack submarine. It will join the Navy’s fleet in 2016. For its commissioning, a $1,000 check was recently made in memory of Sen. Bob Mitchler. It will be the second ship named after the state. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014
Email Jennifer Rice at jen@foxvalleylabornews.com
MONTGOMERY — The members of the Navy League of the United States, Aurora Council, broke the first rule of the Navy — it volunteered, and now it is helping with the commissioning of Illinois’ newest namesake ship, the USS Illinois (SNN 786).
At a recent Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club it received its first donation — a $1,000 check from the breakfast club in memory of Sen. Robert “Bob” Mitchler. He was a long-time member of both the breakfast club and the Aurora Council Navy League. Mitchler passed away in 2012 at the age of 91.
USS Illinois Commissioning Committee Chairman Capt. USN (Ret.) Len Wass accepted the donation from Breakfast Club President Herschel Luckinbill, and Treasurer Wayne Johnson. He also explained how the Aurora Navy League has taken the lead on designating support of the USS Illinois with events associated with the launching, commissioning, and post-commissioning support of the ship and crew.
“The ship has its entire crew right now. It’s a fine, young crew — just like we are were a couple of years back,” said Wass, which brought laughs from the mostly senior group of attendees at the breakfast club.
The USS Illinois, a Virginia-class submarine, is a nuclear-powered, next-generation attack submarine designed for deep ocean warfare and shallow water operations. It will join the Navy’s fleet in 2015. It will cost about $2.7 billion.
Mitchler’s wife Helen has retired from their Oswego home to Gurnee. She was pleasantly surprised to hear the breakfast club chose to give the USS Illinois commissioning committee its first donation in her husband’s memory.
“Bob was a part of so many things. His whole life was spent helping organizations, getting things started and keeping them going,” Helen explained. “He was just non-stop, — that was his life.”
Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club President Herschel Luckinbill, left, and Treasurer Wayne Johnson, right, present a $1,000 check from the club to USS Illinois Commissioning Committee Chairman Capt. USN (Ret.) Len Wass. The donation was made in memory of Sen. Bob Mitchler, a long-time member of both the breakfast club and Aurora Council Navy League. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer
Illinois is being recognized with the submarine because of the Recruit Training Command at Naval Station Great Lakes in Lake County. Every enlisted sailor in the Navy begins his or her career there.
Mitchler’s son, John, recalled a time in 1993 when his father wanted the Aurora Council Navy League to participate in the commissioning of the USS Springfield (SSN-761). Only Springfield, Mass. was taking on a lot of the commissioning committees. Not to be left out, the elder Mitchler decided to buy the captain’s china.
“The way I remember it, Massachusetts threw the commissioning party, and there was an announcement made that Springfield, Illinois bought the captain’s china, and that kind of took the wind out the Massachusetts committees’ sail,” he said with a laugh.
“It’s really cool they are still honoring my dad. It would mean a lot to him,” he added.