WW II veteran receives diploma
After waiting nearly 60 years, Joseph A. Hudak finally received his high school diploma. On Monday, the Uniontown Area School Board, through the Operation Recognition program, awarded Hudak his diploma as a graduate of the class of 1945, after his education was cut short when he joined the Army during World War II. Hudak was 18 when he enlisted, just prior to graduation.
“He is the valedictorian of the class this evening,” said District Superintendent Charles Machesky. “People of my generation are certainly indebted to the people of your generation. It is people like Mr. Hudak…who continue to provide us the opportunity to live in peace in this country.”
Hudak served as an airplane mechanic in the Army Air Corps from 1944 to 1946, when he was honorably discharged from the air cadets.
He served in the European Theater, including stints in France and Germany.
“This is so nice,” Hudak said. “This is overwhelming, and I have to thank my daughter for making me go through with it.”
While Hudak and his family were happy to finally receive the diploma, the Uniontown resident said he did not have any trouble over the years finding work without it.
“When they just asked how many years did you go to school,” he said. “I went for 12.”
Hudak said he worked for the railroad, for U.S. Steel and 20 years ago retired from West Penn Power, where he served as an electronic maintenance supervisor.
Operation Recognition allows school districts to grant diplomas to veterans who served during World War II and who would have graduated between 1941 and 1950 but did not, due to their military service. Hudak is the second veteran to receive his diploma in the Uniontown district.
“That is one of the joys of being on the school board,” said Board member Susan Clay.
Board President Harry Kaufman agreed.
“It makes me very proud for what Mr. Hudak and all the young veterans did back then to give us the freedom we have,” Kaufman said.
“It means a lot to us to make this happen. It is nice to see him finally get his diploma.”
The board also conducted the following business:
– Announced that recent evacuations drill that evaluated emergency response service as well as the role of the school staff, due to recent bomb threats at the high school, received an excellent assessment.
– Informed parents of a free program sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding Internet safety for children. The program would involve a lecture geared for parents about how to keep kids safe while on the Internet.
Interested parents or organizations, as well as other school districts are instructed to contact Central School.
– Scheduled a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 for general purposes and announced that the meeting would take the place of the regular December meeting.
The board will also hold a reorganization meeting prior to the special meeting, scheduled for 6:15 p.m.