Former World War II prisoner of war Vito Trause finally received his high school diploma in a surprise ceremony, after withdrawing from school in 1943 to serve his country in the Army, News 12 New Jersey reports.
“Instead of spending time in English class during his senior year, [Trause] was captured by the Germans as a prisoner of war,” said principal Dario Sforza.
Trause, 93, left school to “to go to war, to join the service, to fight for his country.” He could not return home in time for his graduation because he was being held by the Nazis as a prisoner of war.
When his POW camp was liberated, Trause returned home and started a family, working two jobs to support his wife and two daughters.
“I got drafted. My brother went, and my other brother went. They asked, ‘stay in school or go to war?” And I went to war, because everyone else went,” Trause says, News 12 New Jersey reports.
The principal, Sforza, was motivated by Vito’s story and wanted to give back. He set out to complete “Operation Vito,” which was an effort to help Vito receive his diploma by recreating the same diploma and honors from the 1945 graduation that Vito missed while he was fighting. Sforza worked with the Department of Education and other 1950 graduates to get an official diploma that resembled the original 1945 graduation version.
At a special ceremony during a high school graduation, Sforza surprises Vito with his diploma and honors. Trause is escorted by his family up to the stage and receives his diploma, prompting a standing ovation by the entire crowd of graduating students and current military personnel, Fox News Reports.
“[Trause] can continue to live out all his dreams,” the principal said. “This was just one last mission that he needed to accomplish.”
Trause was delighted by the surprise and “couldn’t stop smiling the whole time.” He told the graduating class to never forget memorial day and those who serve.
“I appreciated it. I ain’t got much time left, you know? I’m on my last legs, so it’s good to graduate now,” Strause said.