A World Struggle II hero from Texas obtained his highschool diploma this week — 79 years after his training was interrupted so he may assist free Europe from the Nazis.
“I by no means graduated from highschool,” Don Huisenga, 98, advised KTXS Information of Abilene. “I used to be taken within the service in 1943.”
A yr later he leaped into Normandy, France as one of many elite paratroopers on the spearhead of the liberation of Europe earlier than being wounded after which captured by the Germans.
“I received blown again 30 ft and was picked up by two Polish boys,” mentioned Huisenga. “They picked me up and all I had on me was a shredded shirt and shorts.”
He was recovering in a hospital when he was captured and have become a Nazi prisoner of warfare, the outlet famous.
The soldier weighed 175 kilos when he joined the service and solely 100 kilos after eight months of captivity, he advised Fox West Texas.
Huisenga was raised in Iowa earlier than settling in San Angelo, Texas after the warfare. An area social employee heard of Huisenga’s remorse over not graduating and contacted faculty officers in his hometown.
“I knew instantly that we needed to make this occur,” mentioned Kevin Litterer, an official with the East Sac County (Iowa) Faculty District.
Litterer traveled to San Angelo to assist current Huisenga his official 1943 Auburn Excessive Faculty diploma this week, in a ceremony at San Angelo VA Clinic that was celebrated by Huisenga’s household and associates.
“Thrilled to items. I couldn’t be extra thrilled than I'm proper now,” Huisenga mentioned.
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