High School Graduation 70 Years Later for WWII POW Veteran

92-year-old veteran receives honorary high school diploma 
Associated Press
By Lucas High
June 6, 2015

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — In this era, when the biggest decision a teen might make is choosing which filter to use for his latest Instagram post, the decision made in 1941 by 17-year-old Vialquin "Val" Valdez borders on unthinkable.

Rather than finish high school, the teenage Valdez decided to forge a birth certificate and join the U.S. Army.

A year later, he was gunning his way through Italy. Two years after that, he was a captive in a Nazi prisoner of war camp.

Now, more than 70 years later, the 92-year-old Valdez has something he sacrificed as a teen in exchange for privilege of fighting for his country: a high school diploma.

He got an honorary diploma from Cheyenne's Central High at Friday's graduation ceremony.

Valdez enlisted in the Army shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He joined up not out a desire to become a war hero — although he soon would become one. He joined because he thought the uniforms were sharp.
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