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Local Vietnam veteran gets diploma nearly 50 years after leaving high school

Nearly half a century after leaving Rock Island High School, a Milan man finally walked down the aisle to “Pomp and Circumstance” in a cap and gown ...

Nearly half a century after leaving Rock Island High School, a Milan man finally walked down the aisle to "Pomp and Circumstance" in a cap and gown and received his high school diploma.

Thomas Hickson was a 17-year-old junior when he left Rock Island High School in 1966. He joined the U.S. Navy in order to help support his family, served in the Vietnam War, and was honorably discharged in 1972.

He earned his GED in the Navy, went to college and eventually became a police chief. Still, he said something was missing.

"I never had this. And don't you ever think you won't miss it, because you will," said Hickson.

On Tuesday, December 9, 2014, the Rock Island-Milan School Board presented Hickson with his 1968 high school diploma.

"I never thought this would take place, no, never did," said Hickson.

Hickson said much has changed since he was a student, including the addition of computers to the school library. He believes a high school diploma, though, is more important than ever.

"For anyone who is in here who's a sophomore, junior, whatever... if they think they're a tough guy, the real tough guys are the ones who are going to stick it out and put on the cap and gown at the end of the time," said Hickson. "If you think, 'Oh, I can live without a high school diploma,' look at somebody who chased it for 45 years and tell me how easy it's gonna be for you."

The program was made possible through "Operation Recognition" -- an Illinois law that allows school boards to award diplomas to honorably discharged veterans of World War II, Korea or Vietnam.

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