WWII veteran receives diploma 72 years later

LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Penn. - It may be more than 70 years late, but one of nation's heroes finally has his high school diploma.

90-year-old George Fricovsky received his high school diploma during a special ceremony at Riverside High School in Pennsylvania.

Turns out the school's Vice Principal, is Fricovsky's grandson, David Walsh.

Fricovsky left the then Taylor High during his junior year in 1944, to fight in World War II.

While stationed in France, he was injured by a German hand grenade and was honorably discharged with a purple heart.

He then returned to the U.S. and started a family.

His children and other family members said Fricovsky always felt bad for not finishing school, so the school decided to surprise him.

"To be an administrator of this school district, where he went and be able to give him this huge," Walsh said. "He's always talked about his one thing he wishes he was able to do was to graduate high school"

Family members say they got Fricovsky to come to the ceremony, by tricking him into thinking he was going to lead the pledge of allegiance during the start of the board meeting.