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96-year-old WWII vet gets degree delayed by nearly 7 decades

96-year-old WWII vet gets degree delayed by nearly 7 decades | iNFOnews.ca
World War II veteran Bob Barger holds his diploma at the commencement ceremony at the University of Toledo, Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Toledo, Ohio. Now, 68 years since he last sat in a classroom, Barger graduated after a review of his transcripts from the late 1940s showed he completed enough courses to qualify for an associate's degree — a two-year diploma not offered when he was still in school. "It was something I never dreamed of," the 96-year-old Barger said. "I knew I couldn't go back to school now. The university took a look at Barger's old school records because of a friendship he struck up with Haraz Ghanbari, the school's director of military and veteran affairs, left. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

TOLEDO, Ohio – A World War II veteran who flew planes for the Navy has received his college degree to a standing ovation 68 years after he took his last class.

Ninety-six-year-old Bob Barger was honoured Saturday at the University of Toledo’s commencement ceremony, where he received an associate’s degree.

A review of his transcripts from the late 1940s shows he completed enough classes to qualify for the degree, which wasn’t offered when he was in school.

Barger came home to Toledo after World War II and started taking college classes. But he never finished his degree because he was busy with a job and raising a family.

He says getting the degree reminds him of all the friends and family who’ve been a part of his life.

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