WWII Veteran Gets High School Diploma, Overdue Medals At 102
April 06, 2017
The Bottom Line: It’s been a banner year for a WWII veteran who - at 102 - got his high school diploma as well as a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
It may have taken a little longer than expected, but Sydney Cole, a World War II veteran who served with Canadian and American troops and survived being captured by the Nazis has finally gotten his overdue medals and his high school diploma at 102.
Cole dropped out of high school in Buffalo, New York in the 1930s and after being rejected by the U.S. Army Air Corps before America joined the war, he headed north and joined the Canadian Royal Air Force. And after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was discharged so he could come home and fight for the U.S. Army in 1943. During the Battle of the Bulge, Cole was shot down and spent the next four months in a German POW camp.
Now the vet finally has high school diploma and 10 medals for his service, including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Medal. Better late than never!
Source: MSN