Veteran gets high school diploma almost 60 years after leaving to join the military

NEW HAVEN, Ind. (WANE) - After almost 60 years, a Veteran from Hoagland who left high school early to serve our country finally got his high school diploma. 

When duty called, veteran Russ Rothgeb was there.  Back in 1953 when he was just 17 he joined the Army without finishing his senior year.  Tuesday night, East Allen County Schools leaders finally gave him his diploma.

"Joined the Army before I graduated from high school.  The Korean War was going on and I wanted to fight for my country," 76-year-old Army veteran Russ Rothgeb explained.

This diploma means the world to Rothgeb.  He left all he ever knew to join the military.

"They needed soldiers, military people, and fighting for freedom seemed like the thing to do."

Russ was an explosives expert in the Army.

"Learning to play with dynamite and all kinds of explosives and so forth."

He said it's unbelievable that he finally has the diploma he regrets never finishing back in 1953.

"It's kind of like a dream come true, a life-long dream come true.  It's almost unbelievable to me.  I have been so disappointed with myself and so ashamed for not graduating that it has bothered me a lot over the years."

Although disappointed in himself, he said he'd go back and do it all over again.

"I even have urges sometimes to rejoin now and go to Afghanistan or to some of the more impoverished nations to assist them in gaining freedom."

Now that Russ has his high school diploma, he said he'd like to go to law school or study criminology.  He said it's never too late to chase after your dreams.