- Paul Masters dropped out of high school to join the US Navy during the Vietnam War.
- He served two years and graduated college on the GI Bill, but always felt something was missing.
- 53 years later, the Vietnam veteran went back to his high school and was granted a diploma.
- Michigan passed a law in 2001 that lets school boards award honorary degrees to veterans.
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In 1966, while other Battle Creek High School students were staving off senioritis and getting ready for college, Paul Masters was preparing for war. The now 72-year-old packed up his bag and enlisted to join the US Navy during the Vietnam War, just months shy of completing high school. Fifty-three years later, the veteran went back and accepted his diploma for the first time.
According to WWMT, Masters served two years in the US Navy Reserve then moved back home and attended Kellogg Community College. In an interview with the Battle Creek Enquirer, Masters said he had discussed the possibility of graduating after his deployment with a former high school teacher. That agreement ultimately fell through.
“I was a little blindsided,” Masters told The Battle Creek Examiner. “I was expecting to still get it.”
Even with high school long behind him, Masters told WWMT that he could not shake the feeling that something significant had been left unfinished.
"People might not realize how many times the fact that you don't graduate from high school goes through your mind," Masters said. That's always a part of your life. When you see friends, and they're going to reunions, things like that, it comes up in your mind. You don't know if you're welcome, or should be there." Masters went on to tell Fox 17 that he was "traumatized" by the fact that he couldn't graduate with his class. He went on to get a job as a railroad engineer.
Earlier this year, Masters decided he'd had enough, so he went back to his former high school to see what could be done. When he arrived he was greeted by school secretary Giles Herb, who also happens to be a navy veteran. Herd took a look at Masters' record, saw that he had about a half credit remaining to graduate and helped push him through.
"It's very important for people to be able to have that recognition [a diploma]." Herd told WWMT. If they did the time, you might as well get the recognition for it."
In 2001, Michigan passed a law allowing public school boards the ability to award honorary diplomas to World War II and Korean War veterans. This appears to have been extended to include Vietnam in Masters' case.
Finally this month, after 53 years, Masters held his diploma in his hands. After a small ceremony, the veteran left to show his diploma to his mother - at Fort Custer National Cemetery.
"I imagine they're just overwhelmed, Masters told WWMT. "I mean, 'proud' doesn't even touch the words."
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