Their School Did Not Forget

Late, but never too late. Last week, more than five decades after they left school prematurely to fight for their country in World War II, 46 men returned to Roosevelt High in Boyle Heights to receive their diplomas. In their 60s or 70s now, they proudly wore their red mortarboards to the belated graduation ceremony, one saddened only by the absence of six schoolmates killed in the war. Relatives picked up the diplomas of the fallen warriors.

Starting back in 1942, the 46 began to answer the call. That year was a time of apprehension for the United States and its allies. The Marines were preparing to assault Guadalcanal in what would be a bitter battle. The German army was closing on Stalingrad, Britain’s Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery was attacking Alamein and Allied troops were landing in Algeria and Morocco.

“My God, we wanted to go,” said Val Rodriguez, 68, who near the end of the war lied about his age to enlist when he was just 16 years old. “We had this love of country. . . .”

After the war, some of the former GIs went on to college. But deep in their hearts, they say, was the disappointment of never having received their diplomas from Roosevelt High.

Now, thanks to the perseverance of seven in the group, that dream has been fulfilled. Supported by Henry Ronquillo, the principal of the Eastside school, and Bob Archuleta, commissioner of the Los Angeles County Veterans Advisory Commission, the 46 men became, in solemn ceremony, graduates of Roosevelt High, long after they had completed the most difficult course given their generation. We salute the World War II veteran/graduates of Roosevelt High.