Caledonia Argus

World War II veteran to receive high school diploma

Posted: 11/6/02

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

Caledonia native and World War II veteran Don St. Mary will receive his high school diploma at a ceremony on November 11, 58 years after his classmates graduated from Caledonia High School.

ìI donít want to make too big a deal out of it,î St. Mary said. ìBut I can finally say I got one.î

St. Mary was forced to leave high school after he was drafted into the army in May 1943, at the end of his junior year. Heíd planned on graduating in the spring of 1944, but duty, in the form of conscription, called.

ìYou had to go, it didnít matter,î he said. It was a time when the country needed all available young men, he noted, and those drafted were obliged to serve their country.

After basic training at Camp Dodge in Des Moines and additional training in Missouri and Texas, St. Mary shipped out to Europe aboard the Queen Mary.

ìIt was the same boat Mickey Rooney went on,î St. Mary recalled. ìHe had a uniform, a pack, and a rifleñ just like the rest of us.î

The ship landed in Glasgow, Scotland, and from there his outfit ventured through England, then across the channel to France, and ended their campaign at Marseilles. In 1945, St. Mary was discharged from the Army and arrived back home; the prospect of continuing high school was not an option. He got married that same year, and employment was imperative.

ìI had to make a living,î he said. ìSo I worked at Weichert Motors for a few years. I went to Dunwoody Institute for a couple years after Weichertís, and then worked at Frankís (garage) for 50-plus years.î

A government program allowing schools to award realñ as opposed to honoraryñ diplomas as a way of showing gratitude to World War II veterans facilitated St. Maryís belated high school graduation. He will receive his diploma on Veterans Day at a ceremony at Caledonia middle/high school.

Top of Page