WWII Vet Honors Teen
Young Cadet Receives prestigious title at Greenville Airport Ceremony
The weight of history rested on 16-year-old Silas Wenzel's shoulders as 101-year-old World War II veteran Johnny Rothfus placed a chief petty officer's hat on his head at Majors Field Saturday morning.
The moment came during the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps George H.W. Bush Squadron's first chief petty officer pinning ceremony, part of Greenville's Armed Forces Day Fly-In and Historic Aircraft Show.
"That was unexplainable," Wenzel said of the moment Rothfus, who enlisted in the military at 16 himself, honored him with the ceremonial hat. "It's getting to the point where there's not very many of them left. That feeling was just indescribable. He's an awesome man."
Rothfus served as a staff sergeant and tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator with the 98th Bomb Group, flying missions over occupied Europe from Foggia Air Base in Italy. After the war, he continued his service as a Dallas firefighter.
The ceremony marked a milestone for the squadron, which serves students from fifth through 12th grade in a Navy youth program designed to prepare participants for military careers. Chief petty officer represents the highest rank a cadet can achieve during their tenure.
Wenzel, from San Angelo, has spent nearly four years in the program since joining at 13. His father, Vincent Wenzel, a 24-year Navy veteran who retired in 2023, pinned his own anchors on his son during the ceremony.
"It's really indescribable the feeling and pride I get from him being the person to do it for me and to be able to wear his anchor," Wenzel said. "It's a feeling like no other."
The program operates like ROTC but remains unconnected to schools, accepting anyone age 10 through 18. Financial aid helps make the program accessible, with national grants and unit-specific assistance available for families who need it.
Rear Admiral Doug Beal, United States Navy (Ret.), officiated the ceremony.
For Wenzel, who plans to enlist in the Navy as soon as he turns 17, the program provides a significant advantage. Sea Cadet graduates enter boot camp at a higher rank than other recruits, and Wenzel aims to become a rescue swimmer before potentially pursuing officer training to become a pilot.
The ceremony bridged generations of service, connecting a World War II veteran who answered his country's call at 16 with a modern teenager preparing to do the same.