Veterans’ Diplomas

* “Diplomas at Last for Proud Veterans” (June 8) was indeed uplifting and inspiring. Regretfully, too many stories coming out of East Los Angeles are not positive, but this event highlighted the rich history of East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and Roosevelt High School. Thumbs up to those who conceived of the idea to present high school diplomas to World War II veterans who left school to join the armed forces. Many of them never returned. They fought and died on the beaches of Normandy, in Europe and in the jungles of the South Pacific. Certainly, the same sacrifices were made by our Korean and Vietnam veterans.

My brother, Manuel, accepted two diplomas on behalf of two buddies--one who recently died, and the other, “Memo” Terrazas, who came home in 1945 partially paralyzed and has great difficulty getting around.

Raul Morin in his book, “Among the Valiant,” chronicled the fact that Mexican Americans distinguished themselves on the battlefield. Incidentally, Roosevelt High was a cultural and ethnic melting pot in the early 1940s and young men of various ethnic groups (Jews, blacks, Russians, Armenians and Asians) left school to join the armed forces.

VINCENT C. VILLAGRAN

Roosevelt High Class of ’52

San Dimas