USSJC Crew Visits in October 2002

Each year, the USS Jefferson City sends some of its crew members to visit the city that lends the boat its name: Jefferson City, Missouri. The citizens look forward to the visit each year, and plan many activities that will give the crew a good idea of what Jefferson City and its citizens are like. The visit is a joint effort and many weeks of preparation go into lining up the events.

Late Wednesday night, October 16, 2002, four members of the USS Jefferson City crew arrived in Jefferson City: Chief of the Boat Neal Johnson, Lt. Tullio Celano, III, MM2 Kevin Ervin, and STS3 Anthony Donatelli. Their itinerary was packed, and they hit the ground running. They won't slow down the whole five days of their visit.

Thursday

Lt. Celano (left) and STSCS(SS) Neal Johnson (right) in
KLIK Waiting Area

Warren Krech interviewing Celano & Johnson

The Chief of the Boat (l.) and Lt. (r.) take live calls on
the air!

No visit to Jefferson City would be complete without a tour of Missouri's beautiful Capitol building. The men were escorted by State Representative Bill Gratz who showed them around the Capitol Museum which, of course, includes a display dedicated to the USS Jefferson City!

USS Jefferson City display at the Capitol

COB Johnson and Lt. Celano by the USS Missouri (BB63)
Ship's Bell

Crew standing in front of the USS Scamp Memorial
L to R: STS3 Donatelli, Senior Chief Johnson, Lt.
Celano, MM2 Ervin, and George Arnold, chairman
of the Jefferson City Submarine Committe and Base
Commander of the Topeka-Jefferson City USSVI Base

Following lunch at Central Bank, the crew toured the Governor's mansion, then visited the legendary "Herman Smith's Submarine Room." Herman has enough Naval memorabilia to open his own museum. And he has plenty of personal WWII stories of his own to keep his listeners spellbound. A reporter from the Jefferson City News Tribune was on hand to conduct an interview with the crew. And, of course, the tireless hostess, Melody Green, can always be found helping make sure all the details are taken care of. Evening found them the guests of Tom Simon for a Chamber of Commerce Get Together at the Ramada Inn.

Crew Members receiving a briefing from Herman Smith,
WWII SubVet, in Herman's Submarine Room.

Johnson, Ervin, Celano and Herman Smith

Anthony Donatelli being interviewed by News Tribune
Reporter

Jefferson City News Tribune reporter talks
with Ervin, Celano, and Donatelli

COB Johnson and Melody Green

Herman points out information about one of the
boats he served aboard during WWII

Friday

Friday started at 7:15 AM with back-to-back radio interviews by John Marsh of KWOS AM, and sister station "KAT Country." After visiting with the children at some local schools, and having lunch with them in the school cafeteria, the crew were given a tour of Scholastic Publishing Company, one of the largest publishing companies in the world. Dinner was served at the American Legion by Navy Ship #5.

The crew visits the world famous Scholastic Printing
Company, and pose in front of the company's "Little"
Yellow School Bus"

COB Johnson and Lt. Celano present
a photo of the USS Jefferson City
signed by CDR Richter, Commanding
Officer, to Scholastic Tour Guide
Val Walker

Lt. Celano talks with Florence Lawson at American Legion
Reception on Friday evening

Dean Lawson, step-father of the Skipper (L.),
and Jack Benke, father of the XO

L to R: Lt. Celano, Marjorie Smith, Herman Smith
(TJC Member and WWII SubVet), and COB Johnson

Family members of the USSJC's CO and XO gather at
American Legion for dinner

Dorris Arnold, wife of TJC Commander, explains to
STS3(SS) Donatelli and MM2(SS) Ervin the experiences
of her "Yes Dear" cruise aboard diesel boat USS
Sea Fox (SS402)

American Legion Commander of Post #5 receives a signed
photo of the USS Jefferson City from Senior Chief
Johnson and Lt. Celano

Uel Smith (TJC Member) receives a signed photo of the
USSJC from Chief of the Boat Johnson

Weekend

Florence Lawson, CDR Richter's mother, calls guests
to dinner

Dale Richter, CDR Richter's twin brother, and Gail Oehrke,
their elementary school principal in Owensville, MO

CDR Richter's family, L to R: (back row) Dean Lawson,
step-father; Dale Richter, twin brother; Linda Richter,
sister; (front row) Florence Lawson, mother; Joyce Richter,
aunt; Clifford Richter, uncle; Madeline Brewer, great cousin;
Morris Brewer.

Former crew member Andrew Lenart (l.) and wife chat
with COB Johnson and Melody Green

CDR Richter's parents (l.) and uncle & aunt (r.) proudly
show off their signed photographs of the sub presented by
COB Johnson

The USS Jefferson City table at local VFW post

VFW Honoring POW's

The POW table at local VFW post

Hostesses for crew at VFW

Lt. Celano prepares to show WestPac PowerPoint
Presentation

VFW Post Commander Bob Deeken, Lt. Celano, Herman
Smith, MM2 Ervin, COB Johnson, STS3 Donatelli, George
Arnold, Peggy Wagner

COB Johnson presents signed photo to Bob Deeken

Monday

If these guys decide to move to JC, Central Dairy will
probably be one of the main reasons!

Last, but not least, the crew attended a City Council meeting Monday night, which was broadcast on live television. COB Johnson expressed his gratitude to the City for the hospitality shown the crew members during their visit. Some announcements and presentations were made as well.

Melody Green and Crew arrive, pose for photo in
lobby at City Hall

Melody introducing crew members to Council

COB Neal Johnson making announcement about new
USSJC web site

Mayor Tom Rackers accepts COB Johnson's presentation of
signed photos of the USSJC Sub and Commander Richter
for City's USSJC display case

Crew bids farewell to Jefferson City on their last night in
town.