A dream come true: Oshkosh veteran receives high school diploma after nearly 50 years

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WBAY) - A Vietnam veteran’s dream of getting a high school diploma has finally come true.

The Oshkosh Area School Board recently honored him with a veteran’s diploma, after his schooling came to a stop while he committed to serving our country.

Nearly 50 years ago, Russel Diener of Oshkosh served our country, but he says that’s not the accomplishment he’s most proud of. It’s going back to school.

The year was 1971, the height of the Vietnam War. 18-year-old Russel Diener enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed in San Diego, California, before being honorably discharged in January 1974.

Pretty much my last day of basic training before graduating, I cracked my hip, and it took a little while to figure out where it was cracked. And spent the rest of the time in the hospital,” said Russel.

After the service, he settled down with his wife of 48 years, Patty, and had a family.

But all these years later, something still bothered Russel.

“I wanted to get my high school diploma, and I was going to keep trying as long as I could. And at the age of 72, I really didn’t know if I’d ever get it,” said Russel.

From an early age, Russel says he struggled with school. He dropped out of high school in the ninth grade at Oshkosh West.

Seeing how much this impacted her husband, Patty stepped in.

“It’s been bothering me, and I know it’s been bothering Russ with his medical condition, and that, and I just worked through kind of channels and did what I had to do,” said Patty.

She contacted the Wisconsin Disabled Veterans’ Organization to pursue a veteran’s diploma to see if she could make her husband’s dreams a reality.

After many months of working with officials and the Oshkosh Area School District, Russel’s graduation day arrived, and he was presented with his diploma at a school board meeting.

“We thank you for your service and sacrifice to our country. Congratulations! Please come forward to receive your diploma.”

“To me, it means a lot. It means I accomplished something,” said Russel.

Russel says that if you are a veteran looking to go back to school and earn your degree, it’s not too late. He says if he can do it, you can too.

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