July 29, 2004

Operation Graduate program awards vets honorary diplomas

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Army SP4 Reyes A. Bejarano left high school as a sophomore weighing his options carefully. “I could return to another year of school,” he remembers thinking, although that option seemed routine and somehow average in the young man’s eyes. It was at that point that he made one of the biggest decisions of his life.

Thirty-six years, a wife and three kids later, Bejarano joined 14 additional veterans celebrating graduation day as part of Operation Graduate, a nationwide program started by the Department of Veterans Affairs in Massachusetts in 1999.

Santa Clara County conducted one of the first ceremonies in California in April 2003, yet according to Bejarano, 2004 was the first year the Santa Clara County Board of Education (SCCOE) included Vietnam Veterans in the ceremony.

For many it was the first day back in school halls since Uncle Sam bent his beckoning finger. The reunion, long overdue in the eyes of the vets, was held July 14 at the SCCOE. Honorary diplomas were awarded to those whose high school education was interrupted by service in World War II or the Korean or Vietnam conflicts.

“We are proud to honor and acknowledge sacrifices made by those who, in the course of serving their country, were prevented from completing their education,” said an animated Colleen Wilcox, Santa Clara County Superinten-dent of Schools. Preceding the ceremony, Wilcox covered the room, spending time with each veteran individually, learning of their experiences and exchanging playful banter.

For Veterans, the event marked the close to chapters half written, culminating either a vision for future endeavors or simply another crowning achievement. Yet, according to Bejarano, some members of the public question whether veterans deserve honorary diplomas because they never took a “test.”

“Combat changes the man within you,” said Bejarano, who left Overfelt High School in his sophomore year. “I met a few vets returned home from Vietnam and I saw something in their eyes. War is one thing but the combat zone can’t be explained.”

By late 1968 that curiosity landed Bejarano in Panama working as an enlisted man with the Army, an education in incident. “When I signed up, I thought they would send me straight to Vietnam,” he explained. “Instead, I was in Panama working as a combat engineer and on my GED.” However, Bejarano, who was an ESL student, twice failed English portions of the GED exam, first by four points, then one.

Meanwhile, as tension mounted in Vietnam, early skirmish gave way to the ensuing bloodbath and the call for additional troops. Bejarano went willingly, fulfilling his reverie, for better or worse. “Eight days in, I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said, describing the Army’s method of assimilation: trial by fire.

In one incident Bejarano recalls specifically, his platoon was sweeping for mines, him running point. “I was walking out ahead of everybody, running the mine detector. Out there your eyes and your ears are occupied, listening for mines on the machine and looking for signs of them in the ground. All of a sudden, there is a Vietnamese man dressed in black, standing right in front of me, trying to tell me something.”

Bejarano couldn’t make sense of the incident.

“I told him I didn’t know what to do and to go talk to my sergeant carrying my gear, guns and all,” said Bejarano, who turned and found a surprise. His sergeant, guarding the young soldier’s gear was walking more than 1,000 meters behind, isolating Bejarano because, “if the new guy blows a mine, then we know it’s there. At least his gear won’t make it worse.” It turned out the Vietnamese man was Viet-Cong, a surrendering enemy. “I couldn’t believe it,” said Bejarano, explaining his reaction as he watched the sergeant hold a .45 to the man’s head, before realizing his surrendering intentions.

“Coming back from Vietnam, I don’t think many soldiers were able to sit in the class and study,” said Bejarano. “I thank God that now they are doing something for veterans when they come back.”

“Now that I got my diploma, maybe I’ll go to college,” said Bejarano. “Older gentleman than me have gone and done better in the second half of their lives.”

Other veterans took a more reserved view.

“I wasn’t too worried about it,” said William A. Griffith, Navy Fireman 2nd C, World War II, of his graduate accolade. “It’s a nice program and it felt good, but it’s not a particularly big deal.”

Perhaps Griffith’s ability, keeping high school graduation under balanced proportion stems from his experience overseas. “I’ve been from the Crow’s Nest to the Bilges,” he continued. At 18, while former schoolmates studied algebra and bio, Griffith witnessed a Kamikaze sail headlong into the U.S.S. New Mexico. “I can still picture it. But, really, I couldn’t wait to get in and I couldn’t wait to get out.”

At 78, Griffith finally got out of high school, yet thankfully, remains in a loving marriage, going on 48 years worth.
“It’s just something you had to do,” finished Griffith, demonstrating an astute interpretation of American politics. “It’s different now. I don’t think [war’s] necessary. Eventually they are all going to become capitalists anyway,” said Griffith, demonstrating his belief in the American economy.

Griffith’s heroics, fighting in Okinawa and other battles earned him the Asiatic Pacific, among other medals.

The July 2004 class of graduates includes Vincent Becerril, Army SP4 (Vietnam), Reyes A. Bejarano, Army SP4 (Vietnam), Earl Williams Edwards, Army PFC & Navy Seaman (Vietnam), Alfred Galerige, Navy Seaman 1st C (WWII), William A. Griffith, Navy Fireman 2nd C (WWII), Donald L. Heffelfinger, Navy Machinist Mate 1st C (WWII), Ben G. Hernandez Army, SP4 (Vietnam), Harry Robert Janson, Air Force Master Sergeant (Korea), Manuel Moitozo, Army Sergeant (WWII), Dennis M. O’Donnell, Marine Corps PFC (WWII), Joseph J. Riolo, Navy Machinist 2nd C (WWII), Rafael C. Salas, Army PFC (WWII), Bruce K. Smith, Army PFC 3 (Vietnam), Margarito B. Soria, Army Sergeant (WWII) and Gilbert E. Urango, Army SP4 (Vietnam).