98-year-old WWII veteran graduates high school decades later

SAN ANGELO, Texas (KTXS) — World War II veteran Donald Huisenga received his high school diploma after a nearly 80-year wait.

Donald Huisenga, 98, was part of Auburn High School's class of 1943 but wasn't able to graduate before being drafted into the war.

He was parachuted into Normandy, fighting day and night for his country before getting wounded.

"I got blown back 30 feet and was picked up by two Polish boys," said Huisenga. "They picked me up and all I had on me was a shredded shirt and shorts."

While recovering at the hospital, he was captured and became a prisoner of war.

"I weighed 175 pounds when I went in the war," said Huisenga. "We didn't have anything to eat; so if you stayed, you starved to death."

Huisenga told KTXS he was eventually freed and made it back to the United States. In their later years, he and his wife called Texas home.

The WWII veteran has overcome so much, including a battle with COVID-19.

Kevin Litterer, the principal of East Sac County School District in Iowa, was contacted by a social worker in San Angelo, Texas that helps Huisenga. The social worker wanted to see if Litterer could help achieve Huisenga's goal of graduating high school.

"...his biggest regret was not getting his diploma," said Litterer. "I knew right away that we had to make this happen."

Litterer traveled all the way to Texas from Iowa to help present Huisenga with his official high school diploma Wednesday.

It was a ceremony that was celebrated by Huisenga's family and friends — an opportunity he never thought he would ever get.

"I always hoped that I would get a diploma," said Huisenga. "I couldn't be any more pleased."