World War II Veteran, 100, Receives Honorary High School Diploma Decades After Being Drafted

A World War II service member who never finished his senior year at his Wisconsin high school after he was drafted received a special honor from the school district he was previously enrolled in.

Jack Kraszewski, 100, received an honorary high school diploma on June 26 at a presentation approved by the Pulaski Community School District (PCSD) Board of Education, reported the Pulaski News, the student-run newspaper of Pulaski High School.

Kraszewski was 18 years old when he was drafted into service in 1943, per the newspaper, and thus unable to graduate. He later took part in D-Day on June 6, 1944, which became a turning point for the Allies during World War II. 

“Kraszewski was drafted March 1, 1943, into the 553 Anti-aircraft Battalion, Ninth Division. He landed on Utah Beach on D-Day and later fought in the Battle of the Bulge, a key battle in WWII,” the Pulaski News reported. 

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In an interview with WGBA, Kraszewski recalled his war experiences. "We'd shoot down strafing aircraft, low-flying planes," he said. "'Cause our guns were 40 millimeter and 50 caliber, so we couldn't reach the bombers."

Kraszewski also told CBS affiliate WFRV that he not only remembered the war for the friends he made and the camaraderie but also for the terrible things he witnessed. 

“There were a lot of days I enjoyed, a lot of days I didn’t like, but you take the good with the bad,” he said. “I felt sorry for myself when I got home, I lost three years. But I didn’t really lose it, I was one of nine million that got rid of Hitler and the Nazi regime.”

Following his return from the war, Kraszewski resumed his profession as a cheese maker, per WGBA. He said that raising his family has been his greatest achievement. 

This past  May, the World War II veteran was honored at a parade in his Pulaski hometown.  He rode through the streets in a World War II-era Jeep.

"Words can't describe how much I enjoyed it," Kraszewski said, via WGBA. "So many people came out to see me."

Last month, Kraszewski was among a group of World War II service members who went to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, via the Pulaski News.

Kraszewski expressed humility for his service during the war and the recent attention focused on him. “I don’t know why you are doing this all for me,” he told a reporter via ABC affiliate WBAY. “I don’t deserve it. I was doing what I did, but I was told to do [it]. And there were 9 million of us. Why should I get the credit?”

As for his long life, he credited God by pointing his finger up and saying, “That guy upstairs took care of that.”

Before Kraszewski, Maj. Stephen Kaster was given an honorary high school diploma from the PCSD Board of Education in December 2018, the Pulaski News reported.