Vietnam Vets Receive Diplomas More Than 40 Years Later

Photo: Jeff Pierson, Donald Boyer, Gregory Warren, Dr. Cheryl McCarthy and Lynne Lichtenauer

JOLIET, IL — Those who serve in wars often miss out on life events that other people may take for granted.

Donald S. Boyer and Gregory Earl Warren were two of those people.

Boyer and Warren attended Joliet Central High School but never received their diplomas due to serving in Vietnam.

After more than 40 years, they finally got them.

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Boyer and Warren were awarded high school diplomas at the Joliet Township High School Board of Education meeting on Dec. 15. They were presented by Board President Jeff Pierson, Superintendent Dr. Cheryl McCarthy and Alumni Director Lynne Lichtenauer, according to a release from the school.

“The District has been awarding diplomas to our veterans since the close of the JTHS centennial year as part of the national program, ‘Operation Recognition,”’ said Lichtenauer. “One day these veterans were young students carrying textbooks and the next, they were carrying weapons. The sacrifices they made changed their lives and made ours better.”

Boyer would have graduated with the class of 1969 from Joliet Central. Instead he entered the US Army in 1968 and went to Vietnam. Boyer calls it his senior trip.

Don’s Vietnam Base was Camp Evans behind the Au Schau Valley Mountains. He describes it as far north as one could go in Vietnam. It was the scene of heavy fighting as it was one of the key entry points into South Vietnam for men and materials brought along the Ho Chi Min Trail by the Communist forces. Don was a Combat Engineer disarming mines and booby traps. Don’s rank was Sgt. E-6 and he served 9 years with the Army.

After Vietnam, Don taught explosive demolition to West Point cadets where he was voted best instructor earning him the Commandant’s Award.

Included among Don’s medals are the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal Marksman M14.

Don is District Commander of VFW Post 9545. Every Wednesday he is at the Joliet Armory with a group of Vietnam veterans who need his support. And every single day, Don wears a bracelet that bears the number 58,479 - the number of soldiers that were killed in the Vietnam War.

Warren would have graduated with the Joliet Central Class of 1968 but he left his classroom to enlist in the US Marines Corps in December 1967. Gregory held the rank of Lance Corporal E-3 and was a rifleman with the Infantry First Marine Division.

On Dec. 1, 1968, he was in the D’nang Quay Nam Province and was seriously wounded by an exploding landmine that killed his friend and fellow soldier who was next to him.

Gregory received the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citations with Ribbon Bar and Bronze Star. Gregory was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps on December 12, 1973.

“This year, 2015, marks the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War,” said Lichtenauer. “We honor and give great thanks to all our Vietnam veterans for their courage and sacrifice on behalf of each of us.”