Sep 1, 2002 By Josh Krysak 5 min read

For Daisytown resident James Rohaley, the decision to go to war was easy. He and four friends from the Daisytown area, despite their young age, jumped at the chance to enlist in the Navy when World War II broke out.

“When they bombed Pearl Harbor, I was so mad, I was just furious,” he said. “I enlisted straight out of high school.”

Rohaley was just 16, an honor student at California Area High School.

He was too young to enlist, too angry to wait. He lied about his age and forged his parents’ signatures to join the military. He earned the rank of Seaman First Class, and his ship was credited with sinking a submarine off the coast of California.

But after the war, things were more difficult.

Rohaley came home four years older and without a high school diploma, something he had to live without, until now.

For Rohaley and other local World War II veterans who risked their lives and sacrificed their education as a result of the war, Operation Recognition, a national initiative to pay tribute to World War II veterans, will allow them to finally receive their diplomas.

“Operation Recognition allows school districts to fulfill the academic honor these veterans are due,” said state Rep. Pete Zug, who sponsored the bill in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

The law 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.

Rohaley received his diploma during this spring’s graduation ceremonies at California Area High School and spoke to the graduating class.

“I tried to inspire them by what I was able to accomplish without a diploma,” he said. “I told them not to coast through their education, because there are always people behind you that are hungry.”

California Area School District Superintendent Dr. Marian Stephens said Rohaley’s remarks were received with a standing ovation. “You could tell the students appreciated it, because they applauded him,” she said.

Although Rohaley had never received his diploma, he has a remarkable resume. He has worked as a public assistance examiner, district justice, deputy warden at the Washington County Jail, served eight years on the California Area School Board and is now a constable. Despite his success, Rohaley admits that being hired for jobs throughout his life has been more difficult without a diploma.

“If you don’t have a high school education, you’re looked down upon,” he said. “It was pretty tough for me without a high school diploma, but with veterans preference, that helped me get hired.”

Uniontown resident Mike Hyjurick agrees.

“It has been a problem,” he said.

Hyjurick also left high school in 1943 to join the Navy, and he recently received his diploma from Uniontown Area School District. Although he admits that not having a diploma made things tough, he is glad to finally have it and said it was worth the wait.

“It was a very good experience,” he said.

In addition to California Area, other districts like Uniontown Area and Connellsville Area have addressed the program at school board meetings, asking anyone who may be interested or eligible for the diplomas to contact the school.

Carmichaels Area School Board approved the fourth such diploma for a World War II veteran, John J. Severini, at its August business meeting.

Superintendent James Zalar said the new school year is starting, but veterans eligible for this special diploma or the families of deceased veterans can still apply. He said there is no time limit, and those who receive the diplomas are invited to join the high school’s regular graduation ceremonies.

Sharon Fissel, director of policy services for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, said school districts do not have to participate, but PSBA recommends participation and offers districts a sample policy to participate in the program. Fissel said the program has received a lot of attention.

“I’ve gotten more calls on this than anything in the last five years. Veterans’ groups and legislators have been calling for information since PSBA did a policy and guidelines for the school districts to use,” she said.

Deputy Director of Veterans Affairs James Davison said participation in the program is nationwide, and many veterans are taking advantage.

“This is a way of saying thanks for their contribution,” he said. He noted that veterans must return to their original school district to receive their diploma, something that has caused confusion.

Rohaley said he is simply happy to finally receive his diploma and to see veterans honored for their service to their country. “It just felt good that I finally got my diploma and got recognized,” he said.

With veterans taking advantage of the opportunity the new law provides, a move is on to recognize veterans of the Korean War through Operation Recognition.

State Rep. Tim Solobay of Canonsburg co-sponsored a bill in June that would authorize school districts to award diplomas to honorably discharged veterans who served in the Korean War between June 27, 1950, and Jan. 31, 1955, provided they would have graduated between 1951 and 1957. As with the World War II version, the Korean War veteran could receive a diploma posthumously.