As most parents will preach to their children; there is nothing more important than education. However, sometimes life gets in the way, forcing people to forgo an education and start the next phase of their life. That’s exactly what happened to one Texas man back in 1943 when he was drafted into the Army, but now 79 years later the WWII vet is finally getting his high school diploma.
98-year-old Donald Huisenga of San Angelo, Texas recently met with social worker Tess Gooding at the West Texas VA when their conversation led to the WWII vet informing the social worker he never received his high school diploma and always regretted it. Luckily for Huisenga, Gooding got to work, contacting East Sac County High School in Lake View, Iowa to see if they could help get Huisenga his diploma . “When Donald reached out to Tess and Tess reached out to me, the principal inside me said: ‘Everybody who wants a diploma and really wants it, should be able to get one,’” said the school’s principal, Kevin Litterer.
According to Fox News, Huisenga was drafted into the Army in 1943, six weeks before his graduation. Now, 79 years later he finally has the diploma he always wanted. Maybe he will even take the next step and continue his education with college.
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