96-year-old WWII veteran surprised with high school diploma after decades

WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) - A World War II veteran from Rhode Island received a present from the past on Christmas when he was gifted his newly-issued high school diploma.

Arthur Masterson has a table of tokens and sentiments in his Warwick home that his daughter, Elaine Vespia, says are most meaningful to the 96-year-old veteran. They include items from the American Legion, a veterans association.

“He’s got his Legion hat there. He’s got an award for being a member of the Legion for 70 continuous years,” Vespia said.

A few weeks ago, a few more important items were added to the table after Masterson’s family learned he left high school mere months before graduating to join the military.

Masterson served in the Navy for 11 months during World War II, and he got drafted into the Army for two years during the Korean War.

Arthur Masterson, 96, left high school mere months before graduating to join the military. He... — Arthur Masterson, 96, left high school mere months before graduating to join the military. He served in the Navy for 11 months during World War II, and he got drafted into the Army for two years during the Korean War.(Source: Masterson Family, WJAR via CNN)

Vespia wanted her father to have his high school diploma, especially since he had been so close to graduating. She sent a detailed email to East Greenwich Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Ricca, who said he was happy to help.

“I believe that military service is what gives us our freedom, so the fact that Arthur left high school to serve in World War II to defend our country, it’s easily the right thing to do to say, ‘Yes, that counts as enough additional credits to make sure that you have a diploma,’” Ricca said.

On Christmas Day, Masterson opened a gift to find his high school diploma.

“Diploma after all these years,” he said in video of the moment.

Alongside the diploma, the gift included a graduation tassel, his paperwork from 1945, his school record and a picture, making for a holiday the family will never forget.

“A lot of us were really in tears. It was just a really happy moment that we could give it to him,” Vespia said.

Everything is now positioned proudly on Masterson’s table of triumph, a present from the past that means so much.

“I hope this is a small token that we can add in terms of our gratitude for what he has done for our country and that he knows he has earned it in every sense of the word,” Ricca said.

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