86-year-old WWII vet graduates from Screven High-"I've got to do it before I pass away,"

[The Straight Story]

86-year-old WWII vet graduates from Screven High


SYLVANIA, Ga. -- Peer pressure wasn't a problem for James Livingston, who graduated last week with Screven County High's 2010 senior class.

Livingston, 86, left the school 68 years ago to fight during World War II. He returned last Friday night to fulfill a promise to his mother to complete high school.

Georgia law allows Livingston the opportunity to get his high school diploma. In 1942, he decided to head to Savannah on a school day and enlist. His parents agreed to allow their too-young-to-join son into the military under one stipulation -- he must earn his high school diploma after he got back.

"I've got to do it before I pass away," said a spry Livingston. "It has taken a couple of years to get it. I've been busy," he said with a laugh. "Through the years, I have thought to myself: 'You promised your Momma you would get your diploma,' but I hadn't."



http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2010-06-03/86-year-old-wwii-vet-graduates-screven-county-high-school?v=1275602677

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Cool story! KnR

[murray hill farm]

2. What a guy!

I so admire him...and his attitude and wonderful connection to own life's journey. Very cool!

[Odin2005]

3. Cool!

[Staph]

4. I love folks who never stop learning.

In 1998, my aunt got her GED at age 91, and signed up for a college history class. She dropped out of school at 15 to get married, and between three husbands and three kids, never had a chance to go back to school.

But she never stopped learning, never stopped reading voraciously. I want to go up to be just like Aunt Cleata.

[Historic NY]

5. We had a bunch of local guys get theirs some years back...they

said it was the best thing that ever happened to them.

[roguevalley]

6. lovely man. looks 65. I wish him another 70 years. :) He can teach

a lot of people about integrity.