Three Vietnam Veterans Awarded Diplomas Six Decades After Leaving High School for Military Service [WATCH]

Three Vietnam War-era veterans from Iowa were recently awarded their high school diplomas nearly 60 years after they left school to serve in the U.S. military, as reported by The New York Post.

The honors were part of a ceremony held at Muscatine High School on Sunday, recognizing Robert David Holliday, Richard Hill, and Dennis Snyder for their military service and academic commitment.

3 Vietnam War-era vets finally receive diplomas from Iowa high school some 60 years after they left school for service https://t.co/yf6ebnwpve pic.twitter.com/RdVCCPk3rh

— New York Post (@nypost) May 22, 2025

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Snyder and Hill both attended Muscatine High School in their youth before leaving to enlist in the military. Snyder left at age 17 and joined the U.S. Navy, serving from 1961 to 1965, including time stationed at Pearl Harbor. Hill served in Vietnam, with his deployment concluding in 1969.

The two men, now 78 and 81 years old respectively, were invited to participate in this year’s graduation ceremony, where they were the first to walk across the stage before a crowd of more than 300 graduates. Their appearance received a standing ovation from those in attendance.

“Getting it now, I look back and I think, ‘Well, everything that I did with the service and everything was all worth it,’” Snyder said in an interview with WQAD.

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He added, “Being here today is really, really worth it.” Snyder said he was shocked when he found out he would receive the diploma and shared the moment with his wife, who was brought to tears.

Hill also expressed his appreciation but admitted the recognition felt overwhelming. “I don’t know how to accept it, you know, because I didn’t get a chance, going through school,” he said.

Holliday, age 85, was not present at the ceremony but was honored on May 14 in a private gathering with school officials and family at his home. Holliday left school before graduating in 1958 and joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

His service included deployments in Vietnam between 1959 and 1961, as well as assignments in the Netherlands, Denmark, France, and Germany.

Muscatine County Veterans Affairs officials noted that eight local veterans have received their diplomas over the past three years as part of ongoing efforts to honor those who left school early for military service.

Julie Lerch, Snyder’s daughter, praised the recognition, stating, “I’m just so excited that he was able to get this opportunity, and then he could have the entire grandstand and the entire graduating class behind him.”

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