Ervin Wendt, a 109-year-old veteran of World War II, received a hero’s welcome as he entered a pavilion in Balboa Park on Sunday.
Apart from his remarkable age, Wendt is celebrated for his service during one of WWII’s most intense battles: the Battle of Midway.
In fact, he is believed to be the last surviving member of the 1942 clash that has been immortalized in Hollywood films.
Wendt was honored alongside 48 World War II veterans and four Rosie the Riveters—a title given to women who contributed to the defense effort during the war—at the Air & Space Museum.
This gathering commemorated the annual Spirit of ’45 event, taking place just days before the 80th anniversary of the end of the war.
Sponsored by Honor Flight San Diego, the event honors all veterans but pays special tribute to members of the “Greatest Generation” who served in the 1940s and ’50s.
Veterans from the Korean and Vietnam wars also participated in the ceremony.
Holly Shaffner, the vice chairman of Honor Flight San Diego, expressed pride in the significant turnout.
“Our Spirit of ’45 event has been confirmed as the largest number of World War II veterans and Rosies in the nation,” she announced to the estimated 550 attendees.
She emphasized the historical importance of the occasion, noting that this might be one of the last times so many World War II veterans and Rosie the Riveters would be in the same place.
Among those present, 21 veterans were over the age of 100, including a remarkable 102-year-old Marine, Patricia Vaught.
Ervin Wendt, who enlisted in the Navy in 1937, has a background as a farming boy from Iowa.
During the Great Depression, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps before embarking on a military career as a turret gunner in Torpedo Squadron 8, a unit that faced devastating losses during the war.
Wendt currently resides in Mission Hills, where he reflects on his long life with gratitude.
Master Sgt. John A. Curran, who will turn 110 in November and resides in Palm Desert, is recognized as California’s oldest veteran.
Meanwhile, Burdett Sisler, originally from Ohio but now living in Canada, holds the title of the oldest WWII veteran in North America at 111 years old.
Throughout the event, Wendt remained composed and answered questions with a quiet humility.
When asked what he believes contributed to his longevity, he jokingly remarked, “Oatmeal and prunes.”
Wendt provided advice for younger service members, suggesting they “stay out of trouble,” which he claims he successfully managed to do.
Nearby, Guillermo Gonzales, another WWII veteran, shared how his faith and the discipline he cultivated in the Marines influenced his life.
“Discipline. It was great,” Gonzales said, sharing how it applied to his post-war career as a fireman.
He explained, “I became a leader too; I was a master sergeant when I retired from the Marine Corps and then a captain when I retired from the fire department.
I even taught at a fire academy for 25 years in Los Angeles County.”
Reflecting on the end of WWII, Gonzales expressed an initial wave of happiness that gradually turned into a sobering realization of the war’s horrors.
He recounted an experience of frustration as he and his comrades were loaded onto a ship bound for home, only to be diverted back to the same departure point due to military needs.
For a week, they had to wait before finally returning home.
At 102, Gonzales credits his health to God and the exercise he engaged in while serving as a firefighter.
Displaying a rosary under his shirt, he affirmed his unwavering faith: “He’s right there. He’s with me wherever I go.”
Gonzales concluded with a sentiment of commitment and purpose that defined his service: “The gist of the whole thing is: When I was called, I was there. Wherever I was called—in school, in the fire department, or in the Marine Corps—I was there, and I was happy to do it.”
The ceremony also recognized four remarkable Rosie the Riveters: Sgt. Roberta “Randy” Tidmore, Betty Ridenour, Jenny Guerena, and Virginia Wilson.
Each woman was honored with a replica of the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal by Sean Harris of the Rosie The Riveter Trust.
Jenny Guerena, who worked at Rohr Industries in Chula Vista, recalled her motivation for joining the workforce during the war: “We just wanted peace, so they wouldn’t take our boyfriends.”
Her joy upon hearing the war had concluded was palpable: “Oh, happy, happy! I went home and hugged my mother. She was happy, too—very happy.”
Guerena had met her future husband before he departed for Guadalcanal, and she carpooled with friends for three years, assisting in military aircraft production.
After the ceremony, George Newton, a veteran who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, spoke about his astonishing journey.
Rising from a private first class during WWII to colonel at the end of his career, he attributed his survival across three wars to one simple factor: “Just luck. That’s all it was.”
image source from：timesofsandiego
