They left high school early to fight for the United States in World War II. Sixty years later, four local men finally received their high school diplomas.
Carl Carté, Roger Dunn and Aldin Harris walked across the stage to graduate with 71 other Frontier High School students Friday night. Dean Brooks, not in attendance Friday, also gained his diploma. A law passed last year allowed any veteran whose high school education was cut short because of enlistment to return and receive their degree.
Roy Ash, Washington County veteran service officer, said his office sent information to all the school districts in the county about the program. He said some schools took up the issue right away and scheduled an event for those eligible, while others have done little with it. Frontier High School is the first district in the county to honor their World War II veterans.
“I would encourage all the school districts to make the most out of this. These are people who deserve the recognition,” Ash said. “It’s not costing anyone any money, and it’s a great thing to do.”
“These men forfeited their diplomas to fight for our freedom,” Frontier Superintendent Harold Carl said.
Dunn, 75, said he left high school in tenth grade in 1942 and enlisted as soon as he was eligible to begin training at 16. He went on to serve for the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Wadsworth, which fought on the Pacific front in the Solomon Islands, Philippines and other battles off the coast of Japan.
Harris, 78, left in the middle of high school in 1942 at age 18 and served with the Air Force aboard B-17 bombers, flying in China, Burma and India.
“I thought of this day (graduation), but I never dreamed of it until the state passed the law,” Harris said.
Carté, 78, was drafted in 1942 during the middle of his senior year and ended up fighting in some of the war’s fiercest battles. He landed with second wave of ships during the Normandy D-Day invasion and quickly grew up to face the war’s harsh realities.
“As we went up the hill there were men laying dead on each side. That told us where to miss the land mines,” Carté said. “You didn’t know what was coming next.”
Carté went on to also fight in The Battle of the Bulge.
“Times were bad, but they got better,” Carté said. “I’ve been waiting for this (graduation) for many years. I had to go through a war to get it.”
As they waited for a few more minutes added to those 60 years before the ceremony Friday, the veteran group seemed as lively with their conversation as the young graduates behind them.
“Are you going to party tonight, Carl?” Dunn asked Carté.
“At 78 years old, I think my partying days are over,” Carté replied with a smile.